Ancient Egyptian artefacts stolen from American University in Cairo
A storehouse of Coptic, Islamic and some ancient Egyptian artefacts was raided on the American University in Cairo’s (AUC) campus, beneath Ewart Hall at the end of March.
An inventory was carried out by the ministry of state of antiquities affairs immediately after the discovery, which reveals that a total of 145 authentic pieces and 50 replicas are missing, Egyptian Minister for Antiquities Affairs, Zahi Hawass tells Ahram Online.
“AUC is deeply disturbed by what appears to have been the theft of antiquities in their custody,” Rehab Saad from AUC communications office told Ahram Online in a statement, adding that the university is cooperating fully with the judicial investigation, as well as conducting an internal inquiry of its own.
El Araby said that he had received reports of attempts to steal the artefacts and sent employees to check the area. They found the lock broken and a report was made to Kasr El-Nil police station.
Three AUC employees were arrested and charged with the theft and a court hearing has been scheduled for Sunday, 27 March.
AUC has offered to make public the findings of their internal investigation when it is concluded.
The fact, however, that only university employees seemed to know that this stash of antiquities existed raised eyebrows....
Read entire article at Ahram online (Egypt)
An inventory was carried out by the ministry of state of antiquities affairs immediately after the discovery, which reveals that a total of 145 authentic pieces and 50 replicas are missing, Egyptian Minister for Antiquities Affairs, Zahi Hawass tells Ahram Online.
“AUC is deeply disturbed by what appears to have been the theft of antiquities in their custody,” Rehab Saad from AUC communications office told Ahram Online in a statement, adding that the university is cooperating fully with the judicial investigation, as well as conducting an internal inquiry of its own.
El Araby said that he had received reports of attempts to steal the artefacts and sent employees to check the area. They found the lock broken and a report was made to Kasr El-Nil police station.
Three AUC employees were arrested and charged with the theft and a court hearing has been scheduled for Sunday, 27 March.
AUC has offered to make public the findings of their internal investigation when it is concluded.
The fact, however, that only university employees seemed to know that this stash of antiquities existed raised eyebrows....