Stolen Munch paintings recovered

The Edvard Munch masterpieces, The Scream and Madonna, have been recovered two years after their theft, Oslo police announced today.

At a news conference, police announced that both paintings were in better than expected condition, and were recovered in a police action.

The priceless paintings were stolen in a bold, daylight raid by masked gunman from the Munch Museum in Oslo on August 22, 2004.

“The pictures came into our hands this afternoon after a successful police action,” said Iver Stensrud, head of the police investigation.

He said the police have been working intensely for two years to find the paintings.

“All that remains is an expert examination to confirm with 100% certainty, that these are the original paintings. We believe these are the originals,” Stensrud said.

The Scream, which shows a waif-like figure apparently screaming or hearing a scream, has become a modern icon of human anxiety.

Stensrud said it was not possible for the public to immediately see the paintings.

He also refused to discuss details of the search that led to their recovery.