Have you seen this medal?
Reports are emerging of the disappearance of one of the Fields medals awarded today, to Cauchar Birkar. The official statement from the International Congress of Mathematics is reproduced below.
The organizing committee of the International Congress of Mathematics (ICM2018) profoundly regrets the disappearance of the briefcase of mathematician, Cauchar Birkar, which contained the Fields Medal he received at this morning’s ceremony.
Images recorded at the event are being analyzed. The organizing committee is cooperating with local police authorities in their investigation.
More as we get it. (Shuffles papers.)
UPDATE (morning of 2nd August): The briefcase has been found by a security team under a bench, with the medal missing. Birkar’s phone and wallet were also in the briefcase. The thief is said to have been identified from security footage, so hopefully the medal can be found.
The event was also troubled earlier in the week by an accidental fire on the roof of the building, which caused the event’s overnight team to evacuate.
World’s most prestigious maths medal is stolen minutes after professor wins it, at The Guardian
UPDATE (evening of 2nd August): The ICM have published these photos of the suspects.
Who stole Birkar's Fields medal? | Help us spread these images and identify the suspects! pic.twitter.com/rX5E9dsigw
— ICM2018 (@ICM_2018) August 2, 2018
UPDATE (evening of 3rd August): The ICM have announced that Birkar will receive a new medal at noon (in Rio) tomorrow.
Mathematician Caucher Birkar to receive new Fields Medal ► https://t.co/lsWcQWnvL7 pic.twitter.com/BKkg5A0tUh
— ICM2018 (@ICM_2018) August 3, 2018