Ancient gold artefacts stolen from Dutch museum with explosives

The Helmet of Cotofenesti was among the items stolen from the museum

Priceless artefacts have been stolen from a Dutch museum in a theft that sounds more like the plot of an action film.

Thieves used explosives to blast their way into the Drents Museum in Assen before stealing four items from an exhibition of ancient gold and silver jewellery from Romania.

The main artefact - the Helmet of Cotofenesti - dates back to around 450 BC and was taken in the burglary.

The museum director Harry Tupan described it as the biggest incident in the museum's 170-year history.

The Drents Museum is an art and history museum in Assen, the Netherlands

The thieves also left with three Dacian royal spiral bracelets.

All four items have huge cultural significance to Romania. The Helmet of Cotofenesti is thought of as a national treasure in the country.

Romania's ministry of culture has promised to take all possible steps to find the stolen items.

No arrests have been made and police think multiple people may have been involved.

Interpol - an international police organisation helping law enforcement around the world work together - is said to be helping with the investigation.