Security authorities have begun investigations into the theft of the wooden door from the compartment of Sultan al-Kamel, the forth Ayyubid ruler of Egypt, from al-Imam al-Shafei's shrine in Cairo, said Saeed Helmy, president of the Islamic and Coptic Monuments Sector at the Ministry of Antiquities.
The perpetrators stole the wooden door which is 70 cm long, in addition to a set of small wooden ornaments, on Thursday morning, Helmy added.
Helmy notified the Interior Ministry once the incident was discovered, he told MENA on Thursday.
The al-Imam al-Shafei shrine is currently undergoing renovation conducted by the American Cultural Fund, said Helmy. The company carrying out the project provided six security personnel as it is responsible for the shrine's security.
The ministry is only responsible for the project's archaeological supervision, according to Helmy.
The al-Imam al-Shafei shrine was built by Ayyubid Sultan al-Kamel in 1211.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
