2 ancient statues stolen from airport

Bangladesh asked Interpol to help trace two 1,500-year-old statues stolen from an airport warehouse en route to an exhibition in France, officials said.

The terra cotta statues of Vishnu, one of the most revered figures in the Hindu faith, were stolen from a high-security cargo area at Zia International Airport in the capital, Dhaka, the government’s cultural affairs advisor, Ayub Quadri, said.

The artifacts were among nearly 200 that Bangladesh had agreed to send to France for an exhibition due to open early next year, officials said. The first consignment of 42 objects was sent to Paris on Dec. 1. The government announced Tuesday that it was suspending shipment of the rest of the promised items.

Police detained 12 airport employees, including security staff and cargo handlers, but two were soon released.