'Considerable' haul in Casino' di Venezia hold-up

UPDATED: Adds new footage, police statement:

A group of up to five men carried out a daring hold-up at the Casino di Venezia at Vittoriosa waterfront this evening and then escaped on a speedboat.

Informed sources said armed, hooded men had entered the casino - which is protected by surveillance cameras - and then escaped on a boat.

The police said the men had demanded cash from the casino workers and escaped with a 'considerable' sum. Unconfirmed reports initially said the haul could be around €100,000. Later, informed sources said the thieves got away with significantly more, but they could not give a figure.

A Pajero vehicle believed to have been used by the men ended up in the sea off Fort St Angelo as the thieves made their getaway.

No one was injured.

The police and the AFM conducted a search for the boat along the coast. Police cars were seen going around various beaches and a helicopter patrolled the coast.

PHOTOGRAPHER ASSAULTED

A photographer of The Times/timesofmalta.com was assaulted by a man believed to be a casino' employee as he went about his duties. The photographer was pushed to the ground, punched and slightly injured before the police intervened.