Egypt’s Queen Nazli’s world-famous diamond necklace was stolen while it was on display at MAK in Vienna, the capital of Austria. Two suspects who entered the museum posing as visitors smashed the display case with a hammer yesterday afternoon, took the necklace and fled.
Following the theft, police began examining footage from cameras inside the museum as well as from nearby streets and metro stations. Witnesses who were in the exhibition hall at the time were questioned, as efforts continued to identify and apprehend the two suspects.
Police announced that security camera footage of the suspects had been obtained. Investigators believe the suspects knew in advance which work they intended to steal.
Exhibition reopens as investigation continues
Austrian public broadcaster ORF said police had not commented on whether the theft was carried out to order, while the investigation continued.
The exhibition, which was temporarily closed after the theft, reopened to visitors after a security assessment conducted with police was completed. MAK said the necessary conditions had been put in place for the exhibition to operate safely.
Diamond necklace sold for $4.3 million in 2016
Police confirmed that the stolen piece was a diamond necklace belonging to Egypt’s Queen Nazli. No statement was made on the necklace’s current value.
According to Sotheby’s data, the necklace was sold for $4.3 million at an auction held in New York in 2016. The necklace, created in 1939 by a Paris-based luxury jewelry company, contains more than 600 diamonds.
The exhibition features around 500 works, including more than 300 pieces from the same company’s 120-year history and over 200 works from the MAK collection.
