Europol had warned three days before the assault of a rise in thefts of precious metals from European museums, but the alert reached the Villena Museum only the day after the treasure was plundered.

Thieves on Aug. 27 raided the Treasure of Villena, one of the greatest Bronze Age gold collections, in the latest high-profile heist on a European museum, officials said.

El Ayuntamiento dice que el correo les llegó el viernes a las dos de la tarde y la Generalitat señala que el ministerio no les informó del aviso europeo hasta esa fecha