And maybe some of these people are just plain scared of the chaos and famine to come. A little gold, something to trade for food... The officials at the Museum claim that at least some of the looters knew exactly what to take and where to find it. Some items had been hidden away in vaults when the war broke out. These were among the first to go. It is likely that museum employees planned these thefts. So yes - it is likely that there was some theft to order. It is also likely that some items will be hidden away in private collections and never see the light of day again.

Tragic. Almost as tragic as the loss of hundreds of civilians in the bombing.