Egyptian artifacts under attack in Berlin

CAIRO – 22 October 2020: Berlin Museums Police announced that one or more attackers had sprayed oil on about 63 artifacts, including Egyptian coffins, sculptures and frameworks, in the museums located on the Museums Island in Berlin.

The oily liquid left visible stains on Egyptian sarcophagi, and stone carvings, as well as on paintings from the 19th century.

Christina Huck, deputy director of State Museums in Berlin, said, contrary to previous reports, no paintings were damaged, and that three or four of the damaged works were loaned out to museums.

She also said the police are investigating the incident, pointing out that the attack comes in the wake of a series of sabotage attacks outside the Neo Museum.

"This is a very painful experience and we did not expect it," said Christina Huck, "It appears that it was a relatively untargeted attack without specific selection criteria for elements. The police and museum authorities kept the attack secret during the investigation until this week."

“About 3,000 people visited the museums on October 3 - a holiday to commemorate German reunification - but most of them bought tickets at the door and left no name or address,” said Kerstin Pfoll of the Berlin state crime bureau.

Frederick Siegfried, director of the Egyptian Museum and Papyrus Collection, said an attacker appeared to have entered the Egyptian courtyard of the Neuse Museum via the James Simon Gallery and sprayed a number of Egyptian coffins. 

Pfoll said the crime bore the hallmarks of a lone attacker, "but we cannot rule out the presence of more perpetrators."