German tourist stole skull from Vienna cathedral, returned it 60 years later

What it is about

Who published it, and when

How it spread - 34 original reports, 4 reprints

1. Thu, 13 August 2026

   1 report
   • Die Zeit (Germany)09:43first to report
     In der Nacht zum Donnerstag: Auto rammt Rollläden – Einbruch bei Juwelier in Hagen
2. Sun, 23 August 2026

   1 report
   • Die Zeit (Germany)08:59
     Einbruch: Drei Verdächtige nach nächtlichem Einbruch in Schmuckmuseum
3. Tue, 25 August 2026

   1 report
   • Die Zeit (Germany)13:16
     Vorfall in Düsseldorf: Einbrecher stemmen Geschäftswand aus Nachbarladen heraus auf
4. Thu, 27 August 2026

   4 reports
   • ANSA (Italy)18:46
     Spaccano la teca e rubano un prezioso gioiello, furto al museo Mak di Vienna

     URL changednow www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/mondo/2026/08/28/rubato-il-collier-della-regina-nazli.-lultimo-colpo-nellestate-dei-furti_c8995e2b-1159-4afc-be5a-1426e21bc26b.html

     Il colpo in pieno giorno in mezzo ai visitatori. In corso la mostra di Van Cleef Arpels

   • Die Zeit (Germany)21:37edited after publishing
     Zwei Verdächtige geflüchtet: 200 Karat: Juwelen-Diebstahl in Wiener Museum

     previouslyZwei Verdächtige geflüchtet: Diebstahl bei Juwelenausstellung in Wiener Museum

   • Süddeutsche Zeitung (Germany)22:04
     Kriminalität: Diebe stehlen Diamantcollier aus Wiener Museum

     Bei einer Auktion in New York erzielten die prachtvollen Juwelen einer ägyptischen Königin umgerechnet 3,7 Millionen Euro. Das Schmuckstück ist mit mehreren Hundert Diamanten besetzt – und nun verschwunden.

   • iDNES (Czechia)22:41
     Lupiči přepadli výstavu šperků ve Vídni, odnesli cennosti za miliony

     Dva neznámí lupiči ve čtvrtek ukradli šperky z vídeňského Uměleckoprůmyslového muzea (MAK), kde se koná výstava pařížského klenotnického domu Van Cleef & Arpels, píše web stanice ORF. Muži do budovy vstoupili kolem 14:00 a chovali se jako běžní návštěvníci.

5. Fri, 28 August 2026

   20 reports
   • Index.hr (Croatia)04:19
     Razbili vitrinu u bečkom muzeju i odnijeli ogrlicu vrijednu milijune

     DVOJICA lopova razbila su vitrinu u bečkom muzeju MAK i ukrala dijamantnu ogrlicu egipatske kraljice Nazli vrijednu više od 3.43 milijuna eura.

   • N1 Info (Croatia)05:13
     Dijamantna ogrlica vrijedna milijune ukradena iz bečkog muzeja

     Vrijedna dijamantna ogrlica ukradena je iz muzeja u Beču, priopćila je u četvrtak austrijska policija.

     1 reprint

     • tportal (Croatia)28 Aug, 06:14their copy
   • Dnevnik.hr (Croatia)05:24
     Pljačka u muzeju: Ukradena vrijedna ogrlica koju je nosila egipatska kraljica
   • Telegram.hr (Croatia)05:58
     Nestvaran ulov drskih pljačkaša: upali u bečki muzej, razbili izložbeni prostor pa pobjegli s ogrlicom vrijednom milijune

     Ogrlica je nekoć pripadala egipatskoj kraljici Nazli, koja ju je nosila 1939. na vjenčanju svoje kćeri

   • Vecernji list (Croatia)08:48
     Iz bečkog muzeja ukradena dijamantna ogrlica egipatske kraljice vrijedna milijune

     Dvojica neidentificiranih muškaraca razbila izložbeni prostor tijekom radnog vremena, ukrala vrijedni komad nakita i pobjegla, objavila je austrijska policija

   • Times of India11:24
     German tourist stole skull from Vienna cathedral, returned it 60 years later

     A human skull that was stolen from the catacombs of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna has been returned to its rightful place. The elderly German tourist who had taken it as a young man confessed after sixty long years, seeking closure for his past actions. Although the identity of the original owner is a mystery, this return marks the resolution of a tale filled with youthful folly and subsequent regret.

   • Anadolu Agency (AA)12:50
     Diamond necklace linked to Egyptian royal family stolen from Vienna museum

     Platinum necklace featuring 673 diamonds was sold for nearly $4.3M at auction in 2015

   • RMF24 (Poland)13:41
     Zniknął diamentowy naszyjnik egipskiej księżniczki. Zuchwała kradzież w Wiedniu

     Zniknął diamentowy naszyjnik egipskiej księżniczki. Zuchwała kradzież w Wiedniu

   • artnews.com14:00
     Sydney’s Powerhouse Parramatta CEO Steps Down and More Art News

     €4 M. Diamond Necklace Stolen from Vienna's Museum of Applied Arts and £71 M. Rembrandt Portrait Placed Under Export Bar in the UK.

   • La Repubblica (Italy)14:29
     Rubato a Vienna il collier della regina d’Egitto

     Realizzato nel 1939 con oltre 600 diamanti, era appartenuto alla sovrana Nazli. Un altro colpo spettacolare in Spagna dove sono spariti in quattro minuti manufatti d’oro dal Tesoro di Villena

   • Tagesschau (Germany)14:37
     Juwelenraub in Wien: Polizei fahndet nach bewaffneten Tätern

     Während der regulären Öffnungszeit haben sich zwei Männer unter die Besucher eines Wiener Museums gemischt und historische Diamanten im Wert von mehreren Millionen Euro gestohlen. Nun wird international nach ihnen gefahndet.

   • The Guardian World14:46
     Egyptian queen’s 673-diamond necklace stolen in Vienna smash-and-grab raid

     Police hunt two suspects after historic 200-carat piece is snatched from Austrian museum during opening hours Austrian police are hunting two men alleged to have stolen a 200-carat platinum necklace encrusted with 673 diamonds that was on loan to a museum in Vienna and once belonged to Egyptian royalty. Authorities in the capital released pictures of the suspects captured by security cameras during the heist at the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK), amid a rash of spectacular smash-and-grab thefts...

   • N1 Info (Croatia)16:08
     Dvojac platio ulaznicu pa pokrao vrijedan nakit iz muzeja u Beču

     Dvojica muškaraca koji su u bečkom Muzeju primijenjene umjetnosti (MAK) razbili izložbenu vitrinu, zgrabili 200-karatnu ogrlicu od platine i dijamanat

     1 reprint

     • tportal (Croatia)28 Aug, 16:20their copy
   • Novinky (Czechia)16:11
     Zloději z vídeňského muzea ukradli náhrdelník egyptské královny se 673 diamanty

     Rakouská policie pátrá po dvou mužích, kteří ve čtvrtek odpoledne z vídeňského Muzea užitého umění ukradli platinový náhrdelník s 673 diamanty, který dříve patřil egyptské královské rodině. Případů podobných krádeží v posledních měsících v Evropě přibývá.

   • France Info (France)16:51
     Vol d'un collier de diamants exceptionnel et historique dans un musée autrichien

     Cette parure de plus de 200 carats, commandée par la reine d'Egypte en 1939, était présentée dans une exposition temporaire consacrée à la maison Van Cleef & Arpels.

   • 24sata (Croatia)17:22
     Filmska pljačka u Beču: Kupili ulaznice pa razbili vitrinu i ukrali ogrlicu vrijednu milijune

     Čekićem su „razbili staklenu vitrinu” prije nego što su „s nakitom pobjegli u nepoznatom smjeru”, stoji u policijskom priopćenju

   • BBC News World17:29
     Thieves steal 600-diamond necklace from Vienna museum in broad daylight

     Police are hunting two suspects they believe bought a ticket for the exhibition to get at the jewellery.

   • ANSA (Italy)18:19
     Rubato il collier della regina Nazli. L'ultimo colpo nell'estate dei furti

     Il monile, stimato circa 3,7 milioni di euro, sottratto al Mak di Vienna

   • Channel News Asia19:29
     Thieves buy tickets before plundering necklace from Vienna museum

     The necklace, worth several million dollars, had 673 precious stones and was part of a Van Cleef & Arpels exhibition.

     1 reprint

     • ABC News (Australia)29 Aug, 02:37their copy
   • DW Top Stories20:32
     Austria museum heist: Thieves snatch diamond necklace

     The stolen necklace, studded with 673 precious stones, belonged to Egypt's Queen Nazli. It was being displayed as part of the museum's exhibition for designs by France's Van Cleef and Arpels.

6. Sat, 29 August 2026

   1 report
   • NYT World19:49
     Thieves Smash Museum Case for Diamond Necklace Worth Millions in Vienna

     The theft of the precious object, once owned by an Egyptian queen and later sold to satisfy her creditors, was the latest in a string of high-profile museum losses.

7. Sun, 30 August 2026

   3 reports
   • Süddeutsche Zeitung (Germany)08:05
     Museumsraub in Wien: 3,7 Millionen in vier Minuten

     Die zwei Männer, die ein Diamantcollier aus dem Museum für angewandte Kunst geraubt haben, sind weiterhin auf der Flucht. Wie die Tat ablief – und was sie mit der Beute vorhaben könnten.

   • ktul.com12:41
     Unmasked suspects steal diamond necklace worth $4M from museum while it was open: police

     Two unmasked suspects allegedly stole a diamond necklace worth $4 million from a museum after buying a ticket and walking into the open exhibit.

     1 reprint

     • abcnews4.com30 Aug, 12:41their copy
   • ANSA (Italy)19:45
     Il collier milionario rubato a Vienna, il museo nella bufera

     Testimone denuncia l'assenza di controlli e vigilanza al Mak

8. Mon, 31 August 2026

   1 report
   • Il Fatto Quotidiano (Italy)13:23
     Spaccano la teca con un martello e rubano la collana di diamanti della regina d’Egitto da 3,7 milioni: il colpo in pieno giorno al museo di Vienna

     È bastato un martello e poco più di quattro minuti per portare via da un museo di Vienna uno dei gioielli più preziosi esposti in questi giorni in Europa. Due uomini, entrati al museo come normali visitatori e senza preoccuparsi di nascondere il volto, hanno infranto la teca del MAK, il Museo di arti applicate, […] L'articolo Spaccano la teca con un martello e rubano la collana di diamanti della regina d’Egitto da 3,7 milioni: il colpo in pieno giorno al museo di Vienna proviene da Il Fatto...

9. Tue, 1 September 2026

   2 reports
   • nbcwashington.com12:40edited after publishing
     Thieves steal royal necklace from Vienna museum in smash-and-grab heist

     previouslyVienna diamond heist: Thieves steal Queen Nazli’s $4.3M necklace

   • Times of India13:00
     $4 million diamond necklace stolen in daylight heist at Vienna museum