Three arrested for selling pieces of Giza pyramids

Three men have been arrested in Egypt after appearing in a video breaking off and selling pieces of the Giza pyramids to undercover reporters - for just $32.

Society

1 min read

The New Arab

07 February, 2016

The Great Pyramid is the oldest surviving monument of the ancient world's seven wonders [Getty]

Egyptian authorities arrested three men on Saturday after a video which appears to show them selling pieces of the 4,500-year-old Giza pyramids went viral on social media.

The horse carriage drivers were detained on charges of vandalism, fraud and trading antiquities after undercover reporters from local website Dotmsr used a hidden camera to capture them selling two stones for 250 Egyptian pounds ($32).

One of the men, whose face was blurred in the video, bragged about selling stones to foreign tourists for up to 500 euros.

According to a statement by the interior ministry, the arrests followed a complaint by the general director of the Giza Pyramids archaeological site.

Earlier this week, Egypt's ministry of antiquities denied reports that people working at the pyramids had been selling pieces to willing buyers.

The video sparked outrage on social media, with many users calling on the antiquities and tourism ministries to "save the pyramids".

The pyramids, which were used as sacred burial structures, were built in the fourth Pharaonic dynasty. The Great Pyramid is the oldest and only surviving monument of the seven wonders of the ancient world.