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28. 01. 13. - 11:00

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28. 01. 13. - 11:00

Alien Abduction

Kathryn Quinn

They may look like something out of the set of a sci-fi movie but these alien looking creatures are extremely rare fossils of animal life that lived on the earth an incredible 300 million years ago.

The rare fossil that inspired the Swiss creator of the alien films captured the imagination so much in Switzerland when they went on display that they also attracted what police believe was a fossil collector - who broke into the case and stole the Aathal dinosaur museum's prize exhibit.

Police have now released this photo in a bid to help track down the thief and get the exhibit returned.

Museum curator Dr. Thomas Bolliger said: "It really is a remarkable fossil and shows two separate species of a spineless animal that lived at the bottom of the sea around 300 million years ago."

The alien looking creatures were even believed to have inspired Swiss creator of the aliens in the hit film series "Alien" - Hans Rudolf "Ruedi" Giger.

The Swiss surrealist painter, sculptor, and set designer led the special effects team that won an Academy Award for Best Achievement for Visual Effects on the film Alien and its successor films.

Police issued this photograph of the missing aliens and appealed for help in getting it returned.

A spokesman said: "It is a very valuable but also a very unique fossil and it will be very difficult for anybody to sell or indeed to keep secret given the publicity around the theft."

Tragic Ski Girl Dies
A 10-year-old British schoolgirl has died after skiing into a tree at high speed during a family holiday tragedy in the Austrian Alps.

Peak Performance
Police chiefs in Hamburg, Germany, are celebrating after new crime figures showed there wasn't a single bank robbery in the city last year.

Chinese Fakeaway
Chinese property developers who've been thwarted in a bid to buy up an entire Austrian village have settled on the next best thing - an entire life-sized replica.

Austrian children help Romanian kids
A charity project run by the middle school in Hippach has been recognised with an award for its social work by officials in Tyrol.

Mother kills disabled daughter because she couldnt take care of her any longer
A Romanian woman killed her 8 year-old disabled daughter on Wednesday (yesterday)because she couldn't pay for her care, Libertatea newspaper reports.

Policeman accused of sex with the son of his girlfriend
A Policeman from Vulcan, Western Romania is currently being investigated for having sex with a minor, the son of his girlfriend, Cancan newspaper informs today (Thurs).

Serial killer survivor walks away alive after fall
An 85 year-old woman who survived the most cruel and notorious serial killer in Romania some 40 years ago, recently fell from the first floor of her apartment building and she walked away safe and sound, Cancan newspaper reports today (Thurs).

The son of Qatar Airlines BA beaten up in Romania
The son of the Board of Administration of Qatar Airlines Akbar Al Baker, was beaten up over the weekend at the launching party of a posh club in Mamaia, at the Romanian Black Sea shore, Cancan newspaper reports.

Majority starts president’s suspension procedures
A day after the Social Liberal Union (USL) legislators dismissed with a large majority of votes the two Speakers of the Parliament, the Union started today the procedures for the suspension and possible impeachment of President Traian Basescu. This is the second time when the Parliament asks for Basescu’s suspension.

Some 177 Roma repatriated by French authorities to Romania
Some 177 Romanian citizens of Roma origin were repatriated on Tuesday night from Lille, France, Romania TV news channel informs today (Weds).