A high-profile theft occurred at the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) in Vienna, Austria, where two individuals stole a valuable necklace formerly belonging to an Egyptian queen. According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the suspects entered the museum during operating hours after purchasing tickets. They proceeded to shatter a glass display case with a hammer and seized the necklace, which once belonged to Queen Nazli of Egypt. Despite the presence of numerous visitors in the hall during the incident, no injuries were reported.
Police have launched a large-scale search operation in the center of Vienna to apprehend the suspects. Preliminary investigations suggest that the perpetrators may have been acting on behalf of a criminal syndicate. Authorities are utilizing specially trained dogs to assist in the ongoing search efforts.
The stolen necklace is a 200-carat platinum piece encrusted with 673 diamonds. It holds significant historical value, having been worn by Queen Nazli of Egypt in 1939 during the wedding ceremony of her daughter, Fawzia, to the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The piece, which was sold at a Sotheby’s auction for $4.3 million in 2015, was being displayed as part of an exhibition dedicated to the 120-year history of the French jewelry brand Van Cleef & Arpels.
Following the incident, the museum administration temporarily closed the exhibition, which was scheduled to run until September 27, and canceled all planned tours. This event highlights a growing trend of high-profile thefts targeting European museums. According to Europol, criminal groups are increasingly employing aggressive tactics, including the use of weapons, sledgehammers, and explosives, to seize valuable artifacts from cultural institutions.
