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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| China calls on US to punish terracotta warrior thumb thief | China calls on US to punish terracotta warrior thumb thief |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| American man arrested for alleged destruction of ancient statue at Philadelphia exhibition | American man arrested for alleged destruction of ancient statue at Philadelphia exhibition |
| Tom Phillips in Beijing | Tom Phillips in Beijing |
| Mon 19 Feb 2018 09.59 GMT | Mon 19 Feb 2018 09.59 GMT |
| Last modified on Mon 19 Feb 2018 22.00 GMT | |
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| Chinese authorities are demanding exemplary punishment for an American man who allegedly stole a terracotta warrior’s thumb while it was on show at a Philadelphia museum. | Chinese authorities are demanding exemplary punishment for an American man who allegedly stole a terracotta warrior’s thumb while it was on show at a Philadelphia museum. |
| According to reports in US and Chinese media, Michael Rohana, 24, was attending a pre-Christmas party at the Franklin Institute when he went through an unlocked door into the Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor exhibition. | According to reports in US and Chinese media, Michael Rohana, 24, was attending a pre-Christmas party at the Franklin Institute when he went through an unlocked door into the Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor exhibition. |
| Using his smartphone as a torch, Rohana allegedly entered the exhibition at about 9.15pm on 21 December, embraced one of the ancient sculptures, and took a selfie before appearing to snap off a chunk of its left hand and pocket it. | Using his smartphone as a torch, Rohana allegedly entered the exhibition at about 9.15pm on 21 December, embraced one of the ancient sculptures, and took a selfie before appearing to snap off a chunk of its left hand and pocket it. |
| Museum staff did not notice the absent digit until 8 January. Five days later, having tracked down the suspect through surveillance footage and credit card transactions, investigators went to Rohana’s home. “Rohana admitted … he had stashed the thumb in his desk drawer,” China’s official news agency Xinhua reported. | Museum staff did not notice the absent digit until 8 January. Five days later, having tracked down the suspect through surveillance footage and credit card transactions, investigators went to Rohana’s home. “Rohana admitted … he had stashed the thumb in his desk drawer,” China’s official news agency Xinhua reported. |
| USA Today said a friend of Rohana had seen a photo of the missing thumb on Snapchat. Rohana was arrested, charged with concealment of a major artwork and bailed after surrendering his passport. | USA Today said a friend of Rohana had seen a photo of the missing thumb on Snapchat. Rohana was arrested, charged with concealment of a major artwork and bailed after surrendering his passport. |
| On Monday, Wu Haiyun, the head of the group that loans the terracotta army to overseas museums, told Chinese television a “serious protest” had been lodged. “We ask that the US severely punish the perpetrator,” Wu added. | On Monday, Wu Haiyun, the head of the group that loans the terracotta army to overseas museums, told Chinese television a “serious protest” had been lodged. “We ask that the US severely punish the perpetrator,” Wu added. |
| According to the South China Morning Post, another official said: “The terracotta warriors are national treasures ... We express strong resentment and condemnation towards this theft and the destruction of our heritage.” | According to the South China Morning Post, another official said: “The terracotta warriors are national treasures ... We express strong resentment and condemnation towards this theft and the destruction of our heritage.” |
| Xinhua identified the affected warrior, one of 10 loaned to the Philadelphia museum, as a 2,000-year-old sculpture called Cavalryman. He is one member of the terracotta army, an 8,000-strong earthenware force commissioned to be buried alongside, and guard the tomb of, China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. | Xinhua identified the affected warrior, one of 10 loaned to the Philadelphia museum, as a 2,000-year-old sculpture called Cavalryman. He is one member of the terracotta army, an 8,000-strong earthenware force commissioned to be buried alongside, and guard the tomb of, China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. |
| The sculptures were unearthed in 1974 and have become one of China’s biggest tourist attractions. | The sculptures were unearthed in 1974 and have become one of China’s biggest tourist attractions. |
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