World

Would-Be Looters Rip Heads Off Two Egyptian Museum Mummies

CAIRO (The Blaze/AP) — Would-be looters broke into Cairo’s famed Egyptian Museum, ripping the heads off two mummies and damaging about 10 small artifacts before being caught and detained by soldiers, Egypt’s antiquities chief said Saturday.

Zahi Hawass said the vandals did not manage to steal any of the museum’s antiquities, and that the prized collection was now safe and under military guard.

Would Be Looters Rip Heads Off Two Egyptian Museum Mummies

An Egyptian army soldier stands guard near antiquities of the Egyptian museum in Cairo on Saturday. (AP)

With mass anti-government protests still roiling the country and unleashing chaos on the streets, fears that looters could target other ancient treasures at sites across the country prompted the military to dispatch armored personnel carriers and troops to the Pyramids of Giza, the temple city of Luxor and other key archaeological monuments.

Hawass said now that the Egyptian Museum’s collection is secure from thieves, the greatest threat to the collection inside is posed by the torched ruling party headquarters building next door.

“What scares me is that if this building is destroyed, it will fall over the museum,” Hawass said as he watched fire trucks spray water on the still smoldering NDP headquarters.

The museum, which is home to the gold mask of King Tutankhamun that draws millions of tourists a year, also houses thousands of artifacts spanning the full sweep of Egypt’s rich pharaonic history.

“The significance of the collection of the Cairo museum cannot be understated,” said Thomas Campbell, the director of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art by telephone. “It is the great repository of Egyptian art. It is the treasure chest, the finest sculptures and treasures from literally 4,000 years of history.”

“If it is damaged through looting or fire, it would be a loss to all humankind,” he said.

The museum is located near some of the most intense of the mass anti-government protests sweeping the capital, and Egyptian army commandoes secured the building and its grounds early Saturday.

Before the army arrived, young Egyptians – some armed with truncheons grabbed off the police – created a human chain at the museum’s front gate to prevent looters from making off with any of its priceless artifacts.

“They managed to stop them,” Hawass said. He added that the would-be looters only vandalized two mummies, ripping their heads off. They also cleared out the museum gift shop.

The prized King Tutankhamun exhibit had not been damaged and was safe, he said.

An Associated Press Television News crew that was allowed into the museum saw two vandalized mummies and at least 10 small artifacts that had been taken out of their glass cases and damaged.

Fears of looters have prompted authorities elsewhere to take precautions to secure antiquities at other sites.

The military closed the pyramids on the outskirts of Cairo to tourists, and armored personnel carriers could be seen outside the famed archaeological site.

Archaeologist Kent Weeks, who is in the southern temple town of Luxor, said that rumors that attacks were planned against monuments prompted authorities to erect barriers and guard Karnak Temple while tanks were positioned around Luxor’s museum.

Meanwhile, nearly a week of violent protests has left more than 70 dead.

—

Associated Press writer Chris Hawley in New York contributed to this report.

Comments (116)

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  • BurntHills
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 8:14pm

    over on Drude is a news story on this that says the looters were from the ghettoes and the everyday civilians trying to prevent it were screaming “we’re not Baghdad!” etc… jeez, memories of looters rampaging and trashing thru New Orleans stores sure comes to mind, they sure needed those flat screen tvs in 5′ deep water, didn’t they.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
  • Nigel2
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 8:10pm

    MEDIA MATTERS TROLL ALERT!!!

    You will know them by the attempt to talk “real redneck” while misspelling at a third grade level. (See above)

    Report Post » Nigel2  
  • donh2
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 8:08pm

    This looting shows that there is an occult neo nazi power behind this criminal rebellion. Adolf Hitler invaded countries simply to loot their museums of certain artifacts he believed held supernatural powers . He was particularly obsessed with the Holy Lance that pierced the side of Christ believing that wielding this blade in satanic rituals would give him control of the World. It is important to know if any Pharoh scepter has been stolen from the Cairo Museum ….. http://www.unmuseum.org/spear.htm

    Report Post »  
  • Byzantine-Catholic
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 8:00pm

    Please Pray for the Coptic Christians in egypt.

    Report Post »  
  • caprica
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 7:52pm

    all the mess is created by the global govenment ….for decates they telling us they working for the poor ……what a bunch of HU…..the poor are getting poorer… it is a scam …as long they say they working for the intrest of the pooor….they allow to mess up people lives everywhere…..
    America wake up ! stop watching the sensless propaganda and commercial and star usin your God givern brain ….read history and educate yourself…history is always reapeating ….use your own judgment what is real important in our lives…….Impeach Obama ! this is prority

    Report Post »  
  • Nigel2
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 7:50pm

    My guess is they finally got a few buses over there from Los Angeles and that is when the looting started.

    Remember the Rodney King riots. They were interviewing this guy in front of this apartment building. He claimed most of the looting was coming from the neighborhoods on the other side of town. And there was a dumpster right behind him full of microwave over, VCR, and television boxes. I mean over flowing and laying all over the ground.

    Report Post » Nigel2  
  • caprica
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 7:48pm

    the eleted people are the problem all over the world…..they kiss the asses of the “special intrest freeloaders” and people suffer everywhere….they get the power and they think they are Gods….pathetic bunch of freeloaders.

    Report Post »  
  • N37BU6
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 7:46pm

    “Let’s destroy our own heritage!”

    People who do that aren’t politically motivated. They are just having fun.

    Report Post » N37BU6  
  • CanteenBoy
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 7:44pm

    I have yet to figure out, though I am quite intrigued by, the mentality of mob behavior and why they take to detroying their own things.

    As for championships, again, why do they destroy their cities and harm fellow fans in “celebration” of a win?

    Report Post » CanteenBoy  
  • Randyrocker
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 7:41pm

    Any vandal of an Art Museum or any Museum, should be shot dead on site period, to send out a message that the heritage of the nation will not be allowed to be strip mined by looters, and is out of bounds. A few publicized killings of these hoodlums will certainly send a strong message to thieves that Art Museums and the Nation’s National Treasures are off limits to looters and thugs.
    The Smithsonian Museum should have security beefed up and prepared for any form of future violence, and so should any other Art Museums out there, who hold on to the Nation’s valuable possessions. What took place in Bagdad, should not be allowed to happen anywhere else in the world, even if a lamebrain like Donald Rumsfeld should want to allow it, because he said, ” It might cool them down.”

    Report Post »  
    • Wilma
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 9:42pm

      I agree with you. I was fortunate enough to visit the museum several years ago. The artifacts include young King Tut’s clothing, Ramses mummy, even wigs worn by the Pharaohs. Everything is perfectl preserved. Interestingly, only a handful of rooms are air-conditioned making the experience very hot.

      Report Post » Wilma  
    • Mil Mom
      Posted on January 30, 2011 at 12:51am

      The museum’s full of National Treasures! I wonder if they have the basket of reeds from which Pharoah’s daughter took baby Moses, How about the bloody clothing from all the Hebrew infants who were killed? Do they maybe have some of the frogs, or lice etc of the plagues? Just Wondering. Bet they’re more selective than that. Reality says these peoples history is both good and bad, and we can‘t say they are such a wonderful people but hopefully they’ve learnd from past errors and will be very careful whom they choose as a new leader if Mbarak goes.

      Report Post » Mil Mom  
  • Chicago Ray
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 7:26pm

    The lefties will soon be blaming the Museum looting on Bush probably……

    Report Post » One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew  
  • ThomasUSA
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 7:08pm

    This is the act of blind rage..It is a shame it was taken out on such historic treasures But,. as Gerald Celente says… ” When people lose everything, and have nothing left to lose, they lose it”… The same thing has and can happen here in the USA… Remember the Rodney King riot? Look at England and the student riots… I’m not saying there is not an Radical Islamic match that has lit this fire. or other political influences… but a big part of this is people fed up with being hungry and tired of the politicians doing what people with Power do… the abuse it.

    Report Post » ThomasUSA  
  • onegodinkansas
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:42pm

    just curious, where are the reparations to the Jews who built Egypt’s landmarks & supplied the labor to enrich Egypt to afford those glorious artifacts? Guess the Jews need a hustler w/ a megaphone

    Report Post »  
  • Jezreel
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:41pm

    Over 100 years ago, there was hundreds and hundreds of mummies that were destroyed and burned because the powder from them was considered a healing concoction. Very silly. I just hope that all the daddies were not upset over the broken mummies

    Report Post »  
  • ARIZONA VETERAN
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:41pm

    religion of peace….and theft…and looting..

    Report Post » ARIZONA VETERAN  
    • woolie877
      Posted on January 30, 2011 at 9:24am

      Arizona Veteran,
      1st, thank you for serving to protect us.
      2nd, not all Muslims are bad people. it’s hard to distingish the good from the bad, but they are there. Just look for them. You probably had a good Muslim or two in your company. They’re not all looters and thieves…

      Report Post »  
  • BeerTek
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:41pm

    Looks like everyone is losing their heads over there.

    Report Post »  
    • Ezekiel38
      Posted on January 30, 2011 at 7:19pm

      From the religion of “peace”:

      (Quran: Sura 47, Verse 4)
      “As for the captives, the amir [ruler] has the choice of taking the most beneficial action of four possibilities: the first to put them to death by cutting their necks; the second, to enslave them and apply the laws of slavery regarding their sale and manumission; the third, to ransom them in exchange for goods or prisoners; and fourth, to show favor to them and pardon them. Allah, may he be exalted, says, ‘When you encounter those [infidels] who deny [the Truth=Islam] then strike [their] necks’”.

      (Quran: Sura Al-Muhammad 47:4)
      “So, when you meet (in fight Jihâd in Allâh’s Cause), those who disbelieve, smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives). Thereafter (is the time) either for generosity (i.e. free them without ransom), or ransom (according to what benefits Islâm), until the war lays down its burden. Thus [you are ordered by Allâh to continue in carrying out Jihâd against the disbelievers till they embrace Islâm or at least come under your protection.”

      Report Post »  
  • cnerd
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:40pm

    These thugs do not represent the bulk of the Egyptian people. Muslim Brotherhood? They sound like the kind of pigs that have no regard for the noble history of a remarkable race of people.

    Report Post » cnerd  
  • truthwinz
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:37pm

    I’ve been watching :
    http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/
    for most of the day. Maybe those of you that follow Twitter threads or Facebook can speculate or answer Questions for the forum:
    Where do you think the ‘security forces’ / police have evaporated to? Are they aligning with the Muslem Brotherhood?

    Report Post » truthwinz  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:57pm

      A REAL possibility!

      Report Post » AzDebi  
    • Welcome Black Carter
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 9:34pm

      They went home or blended with the crowd. Was it worth dieing for? No virgins… I think not.

      Report Post » Welcome Black Carter  
    • walkwithme1966
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 10:52pm

      The Muslim Brotherhood is a very small part of the population in Egypt and it is most in the older generation. The 20-30s want a democratic society without radical muslims.
      http://wp.me/pYLB7-y9

      Report Post » walkwithme1966  
    • woolie877
      Posted on January 30, 2011 at 9:19am

      @truthwinz,
      There was a report on friday that some of the police were removing there badges a nd uniforms and joining in with the protesters. Any way you look @ it there are truly innocent people who really do want peace and freedom who are trying their damnedest to get there ideas out AND preserve their rich heritage and history. Right on to them for that. The MB are using the drive by media to move this tragedy further and further, and they know it. Lord, please help the Egyptians, both Christians and good, true, peaceful Muslims. Give them your strength and wisdom to get through this mess. Show them Your way is the best way and help them to see Your light. In your name, Amen…

      Report Post »  
  • Hythloday
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:32pm

    If ever movies are true to life, this is zombie movie come to life. Man devouring man, for no salient reason, only feelings. Pray that Egypt and the good people their can stay on God’s side.

    Report Post »  
  • AzDebi
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:25pm

    This is a populous movement driven by ignorant 20 year olds…what they don’t understand is that the Muslim Brotherhood is standing in the wings waiting for the collapse of Mubarak…Obama should support Mubarak and squelch this uprising before it is too late…

    This is a complete reversal from my original, “knee-jerk” reaction…as far as the shut down of their communication systems? In this instance, it was the right thing to do…this rising has been stoked up by the radicals with THEIR own agenda! God help us all if this regime falls!

    Report Post » AzDebi  
    • Recondo Billy
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:28pm

      Debi,to whom do you refer.The MB or the POTUS?

      Report Post » Recondo Billy  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:56pm

      @Recondo Billy: Unfortunately, I believe that Obama is on the side of the MB…his speech was either that of a totally clueless idiot (which I believe he is)…or someone who doesn’t know his history…who assassinated Sadat?…MB! AND…we KNOW how that has turned out, don’t we?

      Report Post » AzDebi  
  • Recondo Billy
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:22pm

    All I know for certain at this point is SOMEBODY has just gotten a grand whazoo curse put on em…

    Report Post » Recondo Billy  
  • Restored One
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:16pm

    By doing stupid things like this, their message loses its power. They are no longer protesting for their freedom they are just acting like the thugs that are running their country.

    Report Post »  
    • what4
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:31pm

      Acting out like SEIU members!!

      Report Post »  
    • Showtime
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:55pm

      Acting out like the liberal media!

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • butler180
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:57pm

      Right on, right on

      Report Post » butler180  
    • CatB
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:57pm

      Acorn!

      Report Post »  
    • Showtime
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 7:19pm

      What did you do today, Son?”
      “I decapitated two dead people.”
      “Oh, my!”
      “They were mummies, Mom.”
      “And your ancestors did WHAT to you?”

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • Sam the Casual Movie Guy
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 7:49pm

      Anyone remember the Watts riots? Newark, Detroit, LA? The same element is here, too. Let’s see how much $$$ we sent to rebuild Egypt.

      Report Post » Sam the Casual Movie Guy  
    • f.hdispatcher
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 8:35pm

      Perfectly stated!

      Report Post » Highlander  
    • CatB
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 9:45pm

      I remember the Detroit riots .. my dad worked for the Railroad and from the top of the station in Detroit one of the guys said that it looked like what he saw during WWII

      Report Post »  
    • Veritas
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 10:34pm

      The culture of the ignorant and uninformed! Glenn is right, we must fix ourselves first, that way we don’t create in our on children, the monsters of tomorrow.

      Report Post » Veritas  
    • TheBMT
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 11:59pm

      READ the freaking article. Gosh. It clearly says the **** protesters*** formed a human chain around the museum to protect the museum from the looters. The protesters know their message and are determined to make sure it is protected from the riots we see from France with mass destruction over union benefits.

      There has also been reports that the govt is letting loose convicts to steal, as well as protesters catching govt employees looting. There are communities running their own security in their neighborhoods to protect against these looters who are trying to capitalize on instability.

      Report Post »  
    • Mil Mom
      Posted on January 30, 2011 at 12:35am

      @SHOWTIME Do you suppose either of the decapitated mummies were the one that Bill Clinton would have liked to have a date with? Wonder if he‘d still think she’s HOT?

      Report Post » Mil Mom  
  • AZ Prosecutor
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:07pm

    No respect for the once great kingdom . . . or their heritage. Too bad our POTUS continues to apologize for our great country’s beginnings.

    Report Post » AZ Prosecutor  
    • Showtime
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:52pm

      It’s like they cut their noses off to spite their faces!

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • CatB
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 9:43pm

      I thought this was interesting….

      http://www.vote.com/mmp_printerfriendly.php?id=2512

      Report Post »  
    • MightyMouth
      Posted on January 30, 2011 at 12:25am

      Dick Morris is wrong. Always wrong.. never right. The PEOPLE of Egypt are like the PEOPLE of Iran… they don’t like the Mullahs. I blame Iran on Jimmah Carter, if he would have sent the Airborne in to Iran in 1979 like he should have, we wouldn’t be in this pickle!

      Report Post » MightyMouth  
  • what4
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:05pm

    Got the MTV crowd over there too…..so sad!

    Report Post »  
  • DagneyT
    Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:04pm

    The first thing that came to mind were those monoliths the Taliban destroyed in Afghanistan. They were ancient carved icons in the mountainside, and were wantonly destroyed by RPG’s. What’s the old saying about learning by the mistakes of the past, you’re doomed to repeat it? The islamists could care less about the past, in fact they don’t want us to remember that mohammed was a pedophile….they prefer to delete the past, our human history. Jesus, any time you want to come back, I’m ready!

    Report Post » DagneyT  
    • Curator_JDR
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:48pm

      Its always the same thugs. Those that destroy like the Taliban and Muslim Brotherhood fear the truth of history because they can’t control it. Well, the bones have risen

      This historic interview on Israel National Radio lays bare pre-Abrahamic history (via archeology and artifacts) and exposes the truth of Islam as resurgent bloodthirsty cult Baal worship under the guise of a pseudo-monotheistic “religion”

      http://www.marcrubin.com/judean-eve.ivnu

      Report Post » Curator_JDR  
    • taxed
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 6:52pm

      Animals… They behave almost as bad as Lakers fans after a championship…

      http://conservativepoliticalforum.com

      Report Post »  
    • GONESURFING
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 7:12pm

      The looting is very sad indeed. This revolution going on in Egypt was sparked in part by the brutal killing of Coptic Christians by the muslim Brotherhood a few weeks ago. What followed was a protest by Christians and Muslims in solidarity with the Christians, which gives us some hope that radical Islamists might not have the upper hand. And ElBaradai, one of the opposition leaders is not an Islamic radical. This week there was a group of Muslim Brotherhood chanting Allah Akbar, but a much larger group of protesters answered back saying “we are Egyptians, Christians and Muslims, we are Egyptians” which is very hopeful. What happens next is anyones guess. We do live in very interesting times.

      Report Post » GONESURFING  
    • DagneyT
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 7:22pm

      @GoneSurfing, that is all good news, but the announcement that Hosni Mubarek is the named VP tells me that we need to be wary of the next step made in Egypt. Mubarek will be a lightening rod to see who is really leading the opposition; anarchicists or “Egyptians, Christians, Muslims”. Should prove interesting. I’m ready, Jesus. In Your time!

      Report Post » DagneyT  
    • Anarcho Capitalist
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 7:34pm

      This is propaganda being used to make us all feel less outraged over the next crowd being gunned down.

      Report Post » Anarcho Capitalist  
    • glennrocks
      Posted on January 29, 2011 at 8:56pm

      Amen

      Report Post »  
    • truthbetold11
      Posted on January 30, 2011 at 12:02am

      notice alot of broken glass and not much missing. al;ways remember things arent always what they appear

      Report Post »  
    • GONESURFING
      Posted on January 30, 2011 at 4:17am

      It has just been reported on CNN that the looters were all detained, nothing was lost, and the damaged mummies can be repaired. Students were protecting the museum. The museum is now being protected by the army.

      Report Post » GONESURFING  
    • 101
      Posted on January 30, 2011 at 5:09am

      Egypt Revolution – More Than Meets The Eye Learn To Read Between The Lies

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeiYILCO7NE

      Report Post »  
    • HITLER-HIDING-IN-SF
      Posted on January 30, 2011 at 2:06pm

      People,please leave J where he is, or they put him right back on that cross.

      Report Post » HITLER-HIDING-IN-SF  
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