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Two British teenagers released over Auschwitz theft British teenagers released after Auschwitz theft apology
(35 minutes later)
Two British teenagers have "apologised unreservedly" for "picking up items without thinking" from the former Auschwitz death camp, their Cambridge school says.Two British teenagers have "apologised unreservedly" for "picking up items without thinking" from the former Auschwitz death camp, their Cambridge school says.
The Perse School says the 17-year-old boys "attempted to keep some items which they had found on the ground".The Perse School says the 17-year-old boys "attempted to keep some items which they had found on the ground".
They were detained at the site on Monday and released with suspended sentences on Tuesday. They were detained at the site on Monday and released with suspended prison sentences on Tuesday.
Polish police said the boys denied any wrongdoing, and were spared a fine.Polish police said the boys denied any wrongdoing, and were spared a fine.
The teenagers could have been jailed for up to 10 years, and they were not given a fine because they were "not working". The teenagers were charged with unlawfully possessing items of special cultural importance, which carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence. They were not made to pay a fine because they were not in employment.
The pair were spotted acting suspiciously near a building where Nazi German guards had stored prisoners' confiscated belongings, a spokesman for the museum which now operates on the site told Reuters news agency. The BBC's Adam Easton in Warsaw said that, as with similar cases in the past, the boys were given suspended prison sentences and released.
The items found were part of a hair clipper, buttons, and pieces of spoons and glass. "Incidents like this happen about once or twice a year, museum staff said, despite the fact notices warn visitors not to pick anything up."
The Perse School said the boys, who were on a history trip to Poland, were being supported by the deputy head and had co-operated fully with the Polish authorities. Guards at the Auschwitz-Birkenau site, which is now a museum, saw the pupils picking up items from the ground near a building where Nazi German guards had stored prisoners' confiscated belongings.
Our correspondent said the grassy area once housed the storerooms where the belongings of Jews sent to the gas chambers were kept.
"When police searched the pair they found buttons, a rusted hair clipper, and fragments of spoons and glass," he added.
The independent Perse School said the boys, who were on a history trip to Poland, were being supported by the deputy head and had co-operated fully with the Polish authorities.
A spokesman said: "We understand they have explained that they picked up the items without thinking, and they have apologised unreservedly for the offence they have given, and expressed real remorse for their action".A spokesman said: "We understand they have explained that they picked up the items without thinking, and they have apologised unreservedly for the offence they have given, and expressed real remorse for their action".
Headmaster Ed Elliott said: "It is still too soon to comment on the details of this case. But it is particularly sad that a situation of this kind had arisen in the course of a visit to a location such as this.Headmaster Ed Elliott said: "It is still too soon to comment on the details of this case. But it is particularly sad that a situation of this kind had arisen in the course of a visit to a location such as this.
"The whole party was deeply aware of the scale of the tragedy associated with Birkenau and the other camps of the Holocaust. Removal of historical artefacts is clearly wrong and a very serious matter. We apologise for any thoughtless and offensive behaviour by these two pupils.""The whole party was deeply aware of the scale of the tragedy associated with Birkenau and the other camps of the Holocaust. Removal of historical artefacts is clearly wrong and a very serious matter. We apologise for any thoughtless and offensive behaviour by these two pupils."
The UK Foreign Office confirmed two British nationals had been arrested.The UK Foreign Office confirmed two British nationals had been arrested.
"We are in contact with the Polish authorities and stand ready to provide consular assistance," a spokeswoman said."We are in contact with the Polish authorities and stand ready to provide consular assistance," a spokeswoman said.
'Tells a story''Tells a story'
Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Education Trust said: "Every single artefact found at Auschwitz-Birkenau tells a story of the more than a million people who were ruthlessly murdered by the Nazis there and this incident serves to show why our work is crucial now more than ever. Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Education Trust, said: "Every single artefact found at Auschwitz-Birkenau tells a story of the more than a million people who were ruthlessly murdered by the Nazis there and this incident serves to show why our work is crucial now more than ever.
"We have a duty to educate the next generation to prevent ignorance and hate, and in over 15 years of organising for thousands of British teenagers to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau, we have never known of such an incident.""We have a duty to educate the next generation to prevent ignorance and hate, and in over 15 years of organising for thousands of British teenagers to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau, we have never known of such an incident."
The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum was founded in 1947 and has more than 80,000 British visitors each year.The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum was founded in 1947 and has more than 80,000 British visitors each year.
Curators say some visitors try to take artefacts as souvenirs.Curators say some visitors try to take artefacts as souvenirs.
In 2010, a Swedish man was jailed for plotting the theft of the "Arbeit macht frei" ("Work sets you free") sign from the entry gate of the Auschwitz site.In 2010, a Swedish man was jailed for plotting the theft of the "Arbeit macht frei" ("Work sets you free") sign from the entry gate of the Auschwitz site.
Auschwitz-Birkenau, located near the city of Krakow in southern Poland, was the largest camp established by the Germans during World War Two. Auschwitz-Birkenau, located near the city of Krakow in southern Poland, was the largest camp established by the Germans during the Second World War.
Some 1.1 million people, mostly Jews, were killed there between 1940 and 1945, when Soviet troops liberated it.Some 1.1 million people, mostly Jews, were killed there between 1940 and 1945, when Soviet troops liberated it.
Auschwitz-Birkenau death campAuschwitz-Birkenau death camp
Life in the city of AuschwitzLife in the city of Auschwitz