Diamond exhibition in London closes early over theft fears

Nov 24, 2005, 0:13 GMT

London - A diamond exhibition in London closed three months early Wednesday over fears that its prime exhibit, the million-dollar 'Millenium Star' of South African diamond producer De Beers, could be stolen.

The display in the Natural History Museum in central London, which attracted more than 70,000 visitors since it opened in July, was closed with immediate effect, the museum said.

The 'Millennium Star', a 203-carat pear-shaped diamond, was a target for thieves in a foiled robbery attempt at London's Millennium Dome in 2000.

The raid, on November 7, 2000, was foiled by police who, following a tip-off, were waiting dressed as guards and cleaners as the robbers crashed in with a mechanical digger.

Four men were convicted to long jail terms over the attempted heist in 2002.

Diamond owners De Beers at the time placed a value of 200 million pounds (340 million dollars) on the diamonds shown at the Dome.

The Natural History Museum said the decision to close the exhibition followed information given by the Metropolitan Police.

Michael Dixon, director of the Natural History Museum, said that since planning the exhibition, the museum had followed police advice 'to the letter' in terms of ensuring the security of our staff, our visitors, and the exhibition specimens.

'That advice changed on the afternoon of Tuesday November 22. It indicated a heightened criminal risk to the exhibition', he said Wednesday.

Other gems included in the popular exhibition are the 'Steinmetz Pink', the world's largest pink flawless diamond, the 'Ocean Dream', the world's largest naturally occurring deep blue-green diamond and the 'Incomparable' which at 407.48 carats is the third largest cut diamond in existence.

Also on display was Scott Henshall's Spiderman dress, made almost entirely of diamonds, which was worn by singer Samantha Mumba at the premiere of 'Spiderman II'.

The tiara worn by Catherine Zeta Jones on her wedding day was another popular attraction.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: 'We have received information that leads us to believe that criminals were planning to target the exhibition'.