BOTSWANA: Massive Buddha statue is stolen from temple

A massive Buddha statue weighing about half a tonne has been stolen from a temple in the Botswana capital, Gaborone, police say. The Buddhist community in the city say they are devastated by the loss and have appealed for help to retrieve it. The bronze statue was donated by Thailand in 1996 and is 1.5m […]

A massive Buddha statue weighing about half a tonne has been stolen from a temple in the Botswana capital, Gaborone, police say.

The Buddhist community in the city say they are devastated by the loss and have appealed for help to retrieve it.

The bronze statue was donated by Thailand in 1996 and is 1.5m (5ft) tall and 1.2m wide. It would require at least eight people to carry it.

Botswana Buddhist Association President Darhsini De Silva told the BBC that the statue was worth about $24,500 (£18,600).

It was stolen during a break-in at the Gaborone North Buddhist Temple on 3 July, Assistant Police Commissioner Witness Bosija said in a statement.