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UK teenagers held over theft of artefacts from Auschwitz museum UK teenagers held over theft of artefacts from Auschwitz museum
(about 1 hour later)
Two British teenagers have spent the night in a Polish jail after being arrested at the former Auschwitz death camp on suspicion of stealing artefacts that belonged to former prisoners.Two British teenagers have spent the night in a Polish jail after being arrested at the former Auschwitz death camp on suspicion of stealing artefacts that belonged to former prisoners.
The boys, aged 17 and 18, are accused of attempting to steal a comb, spoons, buttons and pieces of glass from a building where Nazi German guards stored prisoners’ confiscated belongings. The boys, both aged 17, are accused of attempting to steal a comb, spoons, buttons and pieces of glass from a building where Nazi German guards stored prisoners’ confiscated belongings.
Sergeant Krzystof Lach, a spokesman at the Krakow police headquarters, told the Guardian that the teenagers were “probably on a school trip” and were with a group of friends when they were detained at 3pm on Monday. Sergeant Krzysztof Lach, a spokesman at the Krakow police headquarters, told the Guardian that the teenagers were “probably on a school trip” and were with a group of friends when they were detained at 3pm on Monday.
He named one of the arrested boys as Ben Robert Thompson, 18. The 17-year-old cannot be named due to his age.
The boys were questioned on Monday and Tuesday but were refusing to cooperate with the police investigation, Lach added. A translator was sitting in on the interviews on Tuesday.The boys were questioned on Monday and Tuesday but were refusing to cooperate with the police investigation, Lach added. A translator was sitting in on the interviews on Tuesday.
The pair face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of theft.The pair face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of theft.
“They were arrested because they stole some stuff from the museum – two pieces of broken glass, spoons, clothes buttons and a comb,” said Lach. “The museum is very important for us and to people from all around the world and the Jewish people.” Lach said the boys were arrested because they were suspected of stealing “some stuff from the museum – two pieces of broken glass, spoons, clothes buttons and a comb”.
“The museum is very important for us and to people from all around the world and the Jewish people,” Lach added.
Polish police said the pair were found acting suspiciously in block 5, where belongings of former prisoners were kept during the second world war.Polish police said the pair were found acting suspiciously in block 5, where belongings of former prisoners were kept during the second world war.
“They spent the night in a special jail for youths because one of them is 17 years old and the other is 18 years old. One of them is too young [to be kept] in a Polish jail,” said Lach.“They spent the night in a special jail for youths because one of them is 17 years old and the other is 18 years old. One of them is too young [to be kept] in a Polish jail,” said Lach.
A spokeswoman at the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office said officials were in contact with the Polish authorities and were ready to provide consular assistance.
The Holocaust Educational Trust (HET), one of the biggest UK organisers of trips to Auschwitz, said the two arrested were not on one of their trips.
Auschwitz, located near the city of Krakow in southern Poland, has become a poignant symbol of the Holocaust that claimed 6 million Jewish lives across Europe.Auschwitz, located near the city of Krakow in southern Poland, has become a poignant symbol of the Holocaust that claimed 6 million Jewish lives across Europe.
Around 1.5 million people, mainly European Jews, were gassed, shot, hanged or burned at Auschwitz during the war.Around 1.5 million people, mainly European Jews, were gassed, shot, hanged or burned at Auschwitz during the war.
Museum curators say some visitors try to pilfer artefacts as souvenirs. In 2010, a Swedish man was jailed for orchestrating the theft of the infamous “Arbeit macht frei” sign from the entry gate of the Auschwitz site.Museum curators say some visitors try to pilfer artefacts as souvenirs. In 2010, a Swedish man was jailed for orchestrating the theft of the infamous “Arbeit macht frei” sign from the entry gate of the Auschwitz site.