Zahi Hawass, Egypt's Minister of Antiquities, will offer a reward of between LE5000 and LE50,000 to any citizen who helps return stolen antiquities to the state.
As a result of the security breakdown on 28 January, thieves broke into the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, as well as some archaeological sites and storehouses.
“Honest Egyptians played a vital role in protecting the Egyptian Museum, as well as ensuring that some of the artifacts stolen from storehouses and archaeological sites, including four items from the Tutankhamun and Akhenaten collections, have come back,” he added.
Protesters formed a human shield on 28 January to protect the Egyptian museum after police forces withdrew from the streets that same day.
Citizens returned four items from the Tutankhamun and Akhenaten collections to the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
Fifty-four pieces were stolen from the Egyptian Museum during the 25 January revolution. Of these, 31 pieces were restored and 33 remain missing.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
