Egyptian authorities in collaboration with the armed forces have restored 12 artifacts that were stolen from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Security sources said the artifacts were found in possession of three suspects who are currently being questioned. A group of officers showed the stolen items to the museum’s employees who recognized them and confirmed they were stolen on 28 January after the police had withdrawn from Cairo’s streets.
Sources added that police recruited an employee from the American embassy in Cairo to persuade the thieves he would buy the artifacts for US$50 million. When it was time to execute the deal, the thieves were arrested.
Former Minister of Antiquities Zahi Hawass had announced during the demonstrations that the Egyptian Museum was safe.
“By safe, I meant the important gold items of Tutankhamun’s treasures,” he said later. He said eight pieces were stolen, of which three have been recovered.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
