Would-be thieves try to steal Sigmund Freud’s ashes

An “irreplaceable” 2,300 year old urn containing the ashes of renowned psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud has been smashed during a raid at Golders Green Crematorium.

The vessel, which was given to Freud as a gift from his patient, Princess Marie Bonaparte, was severely damaged during the New Year’s Eve break-in, reports the Daily Mail.

“This was a despicable act by a callous thief,” said Detective Constable Daniel Candler. “Even leaving aside the financial value of the irreplaceable urn and the historical significance of to whom it related, the fact that someone set out to take an object knowing it contained the last remains of a person defies belief.”

The crematorium on Hoop Lane has held the funerals of Amy Winehouse and Peter Sellers, and fans of Marc Bolan gather there each year to mark the anniversary of the former T Rex singer at his plaque.