Czech police have arrested a 35-year-old man for stealing the skull of St. Zdislava, a 13th-century relic, from a basilica this week. The suspect has confessed to the crime.
The thief attempted to destroy the relic by encasing it in concrete. Experts are now working to clean the sacred object.
The suspect was apprehended in Mlada-Boleslav, 50 km from Prague. Police said he planned to throw the concrete-encased skull into a river to dispose of it.
According to investigators, the theft stemmed from the suspect's strong objection to the relic being publicly displayed in the church. He told police he prayed in the basilica for no one to be present and no obstacles to the theft.
Background checks revealed the suspect had no prior criminal record.
