Security concerns close diamond exhibition

Security fears have forced the early closure of the world’s biggest diamond exhibition that had on display some of the most precious gems in existence.

Scotland Yard advised directors at the Natural History Museum in London to close the exhibition early, after receiving information that criminals planned to steal some of the gems on show.

One exhibit, the De Beers Millennium Star diamond, has already been the target of a foiled robbery bid at the Millennium Dome in 2000. Having received advance warning of a possible raid, management at the dome had replaced the piece the night before with a replica.

Other diamonds on show include the Steinmetz Pink, the world's largest pink flawless diamond, the Ocean Dream, the world's largest deep blue-green diamond, and the Incomparable, which is the third-largest cut diamond in existence.

Museum Director, Michael Dixon, said: “The museum's priority is the safety and security of visitors and staff. The decision to close was mine. I cannot comment on the mechanics or the nature of the risk, nor on the security measures we had in place for the exhibition, except that they were special and significant.

"The risk was to the individual diamonds themselves but one cannot take any risk in other directions.”

The exhibition, which has attracted over 70,000 visitors since opening in July, was not set to close until next February.

(CL)