Curators at the Mohamed Ali Palace in Shubra were surprised to discover the door of their office was open when they arrived for work on Wednesday morning. The keys to the palace's rooms were also missing.

Elham Salah, Head of the Museums Department at the Ministry of Antiquities, told Ahram Online that the incident was reported to the Tourism and Antiquities Police as well as the general prosecution for investigation.

She said that some of the palace's different rooms had been opened while other were untouched and locked.

The ministry has carried out a complete inventory of the palace’s furniture and collections and nothing is missing.

The palace’s collections will be transferred soon to the Mohamed Ali Palace in Manial in order to start the restoration work of the Shubra building.

The legendary fountain in Mohamed Ali Shubra Palace