ISTANBUL — The gang of several dozen men with sticks and pepper spray moved methodically from one art gallery to the next, assaulting overflow crowds that had spilled into the streets during the joint opening of several exhibitions in the center of Istanbul.

President Barack Obama, daughter Sasha Obama and wife

Top culture ministry official detained and accused of neglect in Van Gogh painting theft

Egypt deputy minister detained over van Gogh theft

Faulty cameras and alarms at Cairo museum blamed for theft of van Gogh painting in Egypt

Faulty alarms blamed for van Gogh theft in Egypt

Broken cameras and alarms at Cairo museum blamed for theft of van Gogh painting in Egypt

Security lapses blamed for van Gogh theft in Egypt

Egyptian official backtracks, says stolen van Gogh painting not recovered, search continues

Egyptian minister: Search still on for van Gogh

Egyptian police recover Van Gogh painting hours after it was stolen from Cairo museum

Egyptian police recover stolen Van Gogh painting

Thieves steal Van Gogh painting valued at $50 million from Cairo museum

Thieves steal Van Gogh painting from Cairo museum

NYC art dealer who bilked star-studded clientele gets 6 to 18 years prison in $120M fraud

NYC art dealer who bilked stars gets prison time

Police recover Candido Portinari painting 2 weeks after it was stolen from museum in Brazil

Stolen Portinari painting recovered in Brazil

12-year dispute over ‘Portrait of Wally’ ends with acknowledgement it was stolen by Nazi agent

NY stolen art fight ends in $19 million settlement

Outdoor poster blending nudity, Mickey Mouse and swastika causes a stir in Poland

Mickey Mouse with Nazi symbol ignites Polish anger

Russian art curators convicted of inciting religious hatred but let go after fines

Russian curators sentenced but not imprisoned

Moscow curators face 3 years in prison for exhibit that offended Russian Orthodox Church

Moscow curators face 3 years in prison

MOSCOW — One painting depicted Jesus Christ as Mickey Mouse, another as Vladimir Lenin. The 2007 exhibit was part of an effort to fight censorship of the arts, but the Russian Orthodox Church was horrified.

Sketching helps art student who lost eye in Gaza protest while she recuperates at home

Art helps student who lost eye in Gaza protest

Police seize stolen Caravaggio painting in Germany, arrest suspected art thieves

Police seize stolen Caravaggio, make arrests

Police say early portrait by Dutch artist Mondrian has been stolen in the Netherlands

Early Mondrian painting stolen in Netherlands

Prints by Ansel Adams and others expected to draw high bids at NYC Polaroid collection auction

Historic Polaroid collection going to NYC auction

Would the real Jozef Israels please stand up? Israeli curators crack a mysterious forgery

Israeli art detectives crack a forgery riddle

Thieves steal Picasso, 4 other works in heist at home of Marseille, France collector

Thieves steal Picasso from French collector

Paris heightens vigilance at museums but doesn’t add security after huge Picasso heist

Paris heightens museum vigilance after big heist

Masterpieces worth $123M stolen from Paris museum with broken alarm; Picasso, Matisse taken

5 masterpieces stolen in $123M Paris museum heist

Broken alarm a big boost in $123 million Paris art heist; Picasso, Matisse are stolen

Picasso nabbed in $123 million Paris museum heist

Thief steals Picasso, Matisse, other paintings worth more than $100 million from Paris museum

Paintings worth millions stolen from Paris museum

Thief steals Picasso, Matisse, other paintings worth up to $613 million from Paris museum

Paintings worth millions stolen from Paris museum

Police: Thieves steal Picasso, Matisse, 3 other paintings from Paris modern art museum

Paintings worth $613M stolen from Paris museum

Swedish Muhammad cartoonist says he doesn’t feel safe at home after arson attack

Muhammad cartoonist in hiding after arson attack

Swedish Muhammad cartoonist wants to repeat lecture interrupted by crowd violence

Muhammad cartoonist defiant after attack

STOCKHOLM — A Swedish artist whose drawing of the Prophet Muhammad offended Muslims said Wednesday he hopes to get another chance to deliver a lecture on free speech that was interrupted by violent protests.