Egypt's electricity minister, Copelouzos Group discuss progress on Egypt–Greece power interconnection    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Prime Developments, Osoul for Tourism Development launch EGP 1.25bn CLAN project in Hurghada    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, bilateral ties in calls with Saudi, South African counterparts    Total financing by FRA-regulated entities hits EGP 640.1bn in June 2025    Egypt aims to restore gas output, reach self-sufficiency by 2027: PM    EGP climbs vs USD in Wed.'s trading close    Egypt, Saudi Arabia reject Israeli plan to occupy Gaza    Egypt prepares to tackle seasonal air pollution in Nile Delta    27 Western countries issue joint call for unimpeded aid access to Gaza    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Colombia discuss medical support for Palestinians injured in Gaza    Australia to recognise Palestinian state in September, New Zealand to decide    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Global matcha market to surpass $7bn by 2030: Nutrition expert    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt's govt. issues licensing controls for used cooking oil activities    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Oil rises on Wednesday    Egypt, Uganda strengthen water cooperation, address Nile governance    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Egypt, Malawi explore pharmaceutical cooperation, export opportunities    Korean Cultural Centre in Cairo launches folk painting workshop    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



2 stolen Luxor statuettes retrieved
Published in The Egyptian Gazette on 20 - 03 - 2011

LUXOR - Police in the Upper Egyptian Governorate of Luxor arrested Sunday two antiquity robbers, who made off with two priceless small statues in a pre-dawn raid on a storehouse Saturday, leaving three watchmen wounded, security sources said.
Police said they had retrieved the granite statuettes of Tuhtoment, one is 39 centimeter long and the other is 59 centimeter-long, which were stolen during the raid on the storehouse that is located on the West Bank of the Nile.
The watchmen were found in the storehouse with their hands tied behind their backs, tape covering their mouths, with a wound to the back of the head of each one of them, the police said.
Policemen closed off streets leading to the warehouse, while senior officers were at the scene to investigate the incident, which was reported on Saturday in the afternoon.
Investigations showed that unidentified armed men had attacked the antiquities warehouse, beating up and injuring the watchmen before stealing the two statuettes, which are made of black granite.
The attack is the latest in many attempts to rob Luxor's West Bank antiquities warehouse since Jan. 25, the first day of the nationwide protests that toppled President Hosni Mubarak on Feb. 11.
Security in Egypt has been lax since the country's police forces withdrew from the streets on Jan. 28.
Many policemen remain reluctant to return to the streets, fearing attacks by citizens still angry over clashes between demonstrators and security forces during the protests which led to the death of over 300 people.
The warehouse doors were destroyed as were display cases, the Head of the Luxor Department of Egyptian Antiquities Mansour Berek, told the police saying. Some of the attackers had been caught, while others had escaped, he said.
A committee had been formed to make an inventory of the warehouse's artefacts and identify what was stolen, he said.
International gangs may be exploiting lack of security in Egypt given that several recent attacks on museums and antiquities sites had been organised by large armed groups, he said, and the ministry of culture has planned to move many antiquities to more secure places immediately.
Ancient Egypt's culture, monuments, temples and pyramids of are a major draw for the country's tourism industry.


Clic here to read the story from its source.