Fifth suspect arrested in connection with Dresden Castle art heist

A fifth suspect has been arrested in connection with the audacious heist in which around 100 of Europe’s most priceless treasures were stolen from the Green Vault at Dresden Castle in Germany.

A 22-year-old man was arrested Monday evening at an apartment in Berlin, according to Jürgen Schmidt, senior public prosecutor and spokesman for the Dresden public prosecutor’s office.

The suspect could face charges of aggravated gang theft and arson, the Dresden public prosecutor’s office said.

He has been publicly wanted since November 17, 2020 and is the fifth and final suspect police were searching for in connection to the heist, although the investigation remains ongoing.

Around 100 items were stolen in November 2019 when thieves gained access to the Green Vault, which houses one of the largest collections of masterpieces on the continent.

The Green Vault features an astounding collection of historical jewelry and precious ornaments – from shimmering bowls carved out of crystal and agate to jeweled gold figurines and goblets fashioned from gilded ostrich eggs.

The suspect was arrested during an operation carried out by Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office, in cooperation with the Berlin State Criminal Police Office, Dresden police and special forces. After his arrest he was moved to Dresden and will be brought before the investigating judge on Tuesday.

On November 17, 2020 three other suspects were arrested in Berlin, and a fourth was arrested in the German capital on December 14, 2020.

© Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden

The Dresden Castle is a residential palace incorporating baroque, Renaissance and classical styles. Today it houses a complex of great museums, including the Green Vault.

© Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden

The inner courtyard of Dresden Castle is sheltered by a curved lattice glass roof designed by local architect Peter Kulka.

© Grünes Gewölbe, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Photo: David Brandt

For Augustus the Strong, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was an idealized figure of absolute power and limitless wealth. This jewel-encrusted diorama of the Mughal court cost Augustus more than the construction of the Moritzburg Castle itself.

Courtesy Dresden State Art Collections

The 41-carat Dresden Green is the largest and finest natural green diamond in the world. In 2000 it was displayed at the Smithsonian next to its blue counterpart, the Hope Diamond.

Courtesy Dresden State Art Collections

This gold and tortoiseshell notebook was created by goldsmith Pierre Triquet and jeweler Johann Heinrich Köhler. The central focus is a heart-shaped opal topped by a ruby, while the large diamond above serves as a clasp.

Courtesy Dresden State Art Collections

The Order of the Golden Fleece was the most prestigious and exclusive award in the House of Habsburg. This medal crafted by Johann Melchior Dinglinger features three flaming rubies surrounded by 70 diamonds.

Courtesy Dresden State Art Collections

An epaulette of the Dresden Court showcases over 200 rose-cut diamonds in a double loop motif.

© Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden

This exquisite frigate of ivory and gold, supported by a figure of Neptune, was the final work of the noted Dutch carver Jacob Zeller. The ship's billowing sails are wafer-thin slivers of ivory.

The investigation – along with the search for the whereabouts of the stolen art treasures – is still ongoing and, due to the scope and complexity of the case, it is still expected to take a considerable amount of time.

The Green Vault is seen as a site of national significance by many Germans.

It is one of the oldest museums in the world, and has attracted an array of high-profile visitors in the past. German Chancellor Angela Merkel hosted US President Barack Obama for talks in the vault in 2009.

CNN’s Rob Picheta and Stephanie Halasz contributed to this report.