Swedish crown jewels stolen by raiders who fled by boat

THIEVES snatched priceless treasures from the Swedish crown jewels last night in a daring raid on a cathedral, before running out and escaping by motorboat.

Their haul included two royal crowns of King Karl IX and Queen Kristina, as well as an orb.

Police said there had not yet been any arrests following the theft from Strängnäs Cathedral in south-east Sweden, where the items were on public display.

A witness told Royal Central, a website that gives out the latest news of the royals in Europe: “One of my friends saw two people running. I saw the boat just there, a white little boat, with a motor on the back.

“The two men hurriedly jumped on board. We contacted the police and they told us they had taken something from the cathedral.”

The police hunt included helicopters and motorboats, according to Thomas Agnevik, a spokesman for the police, who said the lost jewels were priceless.

“It’s 1-0 to them right now,” he told Aftonbladet, a Swedish evening newspaper.

“I have talked to someone at the county administrative board that says it is not possible to put an economic value on them – these are invaluable objects of national interest.”

Christofer Lundgren, dean of the cathedral, said: “This is part of the national cultural heritage – this is a theft from Swedish society.”

The stolen items date to the reign of Karl IX – youngest son of King Gustav I – who was king from 1604 until 1611.

Queen Kristina, his wife, became Queen Regent on his death in October 1611. But her reign was short-lived. She held the throne for just two months before her son reached the legal age to take over and become King Gustav II Adolf.