Alert Issued for Stolen Paintings

Mexico put out an international alert for 12 paintings by Rufino Tamayo, one of the country’s most famous artists, that were stolen from an exhibition last week. Pictures of the stolen pieces--worth about $2 million--were sent out by the Mexico branch of Interpol to the international police agency’s branches worldwide. Police said five men with guns drawn entered a Mexico City gallery Thursday and pulled the paintings off the walls. The paintings, on loan from private art collectors, were part of a 43-canvas show to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Tamayo’s birth.