Spanish police send team to retrieve Picasso painting

Spanish police have sent a team of experts to the French island of Corsica to retrieve a Pablo Picasso painting owned by a Spanish banker.

Authorities in Spain say the 1906 painting – Head Of A Young Woman – is a national treasure and could not be taken out of the country.

A painting by Pablo Picasso worth 25 mn euros seized by French authorities last week "Head of a Young Woman" pic.twitter.com/HCMck3ljj1

— DannyBoy (@BroadShort) August 5, 2015

A spokesman for Spain’s Civil Guard said four police experts in national heritage and several culture ministry officials flew early to recuperate the painting that is valued at €24m.

The officer said they expect to return with the painting later today.

The painting, owned by Jaime Botin, was seized by French police off a boat in late July.