Anna Holligan

Anna Aslam.

Anna Aslam.

something out of a heist movie perhaps disappearance of the ancient dacian treasures here is what we know so far so it's pitch black early hours of the morning thieves detonated some kind of explosive device windows shattered they entered the museum seized the most precious piece in this collection not long afterwards police found a burning car nearby they believe it may have been the getaway car used suspects then changed vehicles to hide their tracks

something out of a heist movie perhaps disappearance of the ancient dacian treasures here is what we know so far so it's pitch black early hours of the morning thieves detonated some kind of explosive device windows shattered they entered the museum seized the most precious piece in this collection not long afterwards police found a burning car nearby they believe it may have been the getaway car used suspects then changed vehicles to hide their tracks

And these archaeological treasures haven't been seen in public since. Actually, time is of the essence now because the longer these objects remain in the hands of criminals, the more chance they have of getting damaged.

And these archaeological treasures haven't been seen in public since. Actually, time is of the essence now because the longer these objects remain in the hands of criminals, the more chance they have of getting damaged.

But there's also a risk that if they become too hot, so in other words, if everyone knows there's an international search underway, they become really difficult to sell in the black market or the dark web. And the more chance the thieves will just decide that they're more trouble than they're worth and dump them.

But there's also a risk that if they become too hot, so in other words, if everyone knows there's an international search underway, they become really difficult to sell in the black market or the dark web. And the more chance the thieves will just decide that they're more trouble than they're worth and dump them.

I have Romanian friends. In fact, I spent today with Romanian friends and they said they grew up learning about these objects. They're in school books, so they have huge cultural and symbolic significance. To give you an idea, one Romanian friend said it would be like Rembrandt's night watch was stolen for the Dutch or the Mona Lisa for Italians.

I have Romanian friends. In fact, I spent today with Romanian friends and they said they grew up learning about these objects. They're in school books, so they have huge cultural and symbolic significance. To give you an idea, one Romanian friend said it would be like Rembrandt's night watch was stolen for the Dutch or the Mona Lisa for Italians.

The helmet, the centrepiece, was probably a ceremonial helmet rather than one used in battle, made of almost pure gold. It was about the right size for a child. These stolen artefacts represented the Dacian civilisation which thrived in what is today Romania before it was conquered by the Romans.

The helmet, the centrepiece, was probably a ceremonial helmet rather than one used in battle, made of almost pure gold. It was about the right size for a child. These stolen artefacts represented the Dacian civilisation which thrived in what is today Romania before it was conquered by the Romans.

Extremely embarrassing, but also this will resonate beyond the Netherlands, beyond Romania, because as art historians and detectives have pointed out, this is a crime that's very difficult to prevent when thieves, and this is something we're increasingly seeing in the Netherlands, explosives being used for robberies and also in other types of crimes.

Extremely embarrassing, but also this will resonate beyond the Netherlands, beyond Romania, because as art historians and detectives have pointed out, this is a crime that's very difficult to prevent when thieves, and this is something we're increasingly seeing in the Netherlands, explosives being used for robberies and also in other types of crimes.

It's difficult for museums and galleries to fully protect themselves from this type of breaking. But this is an international incident now. Dutch police have activated the cross-border cooperation mechanism. Interpol, the international crime agency, has been called in to assist.

It's difficult for museums and galleries to fully protect themselves from this type of breaking. But this is an international incident now. Dutch police have activated the cross-border cooperation mechanism. Interpol, the international crime agency, has been called in to assist.

The authorities are now asking visitors to report anything suspicious they saw around these objects over the last few days. And bearing in mind the thing that makes it even more painful for the museum probably is that this exhibition just had a couple more days to run. And so really now they're asking everyone to think about whether they may have seen anything that could help the investigation.

The authorities are now asking visitors to report anything suspicious they saw around these objects over the last few days. And bearing in mind the thing that makes it even more painful for the museum probably is that this exhibition just had a couple more days to run. And so really now they're asking everyone to think about whether they may have seen anything that could help the investigation.

In the statement from Kareem Khan, prosecutor at the ICC, he said they are pursuing the investigation into the alleged crimes by members of the Taliban and the Islamic State. So that remains the focus. In terms of how long it's been going, ever since 2003, in fact, when Afghanistan deposited its instrument of accession to the Rome Statute, which is basically the document which underpins the ICC.

In the statement from Kareem Khan, prosecutor at the ICC, he said they are pursuing the investigation into the alleged crimes by members of the Taliban and the Islamic State. So that remains the focus. In terms of how long it's been going, ever since 2003, in fact, when Afghanistan deposited its instrument of accession to the Rome Statute, which is basically the document which underpins the ICC.