The Norwegian Newspaper Aftenposten reports that both "The Scream" and "Madonna" by Edvard Munch may have been destroyed.  The paintings were originally stolen in a daring daytime robbery from the Munch Museum in Norway back in August.

Now Aftenposten cites another newpaper's claim that the paintings have been burned to ash by thieves who wish to get rid of the evidence.

The Munch masterpieces "The Scream" and "Madonna" have been incinerated, according to newspaper Dagbladet, citing criminal sources and a top secret police report.

The paper claimed Thursday that the paintings were destroyed in order to get rid of damning evidence as the police investigation closes in on the culprits behind the robbery...

 Jesus I hope this isn't true--and it may not be.  The Oslo police are publicly claiming that the Dagbladet story is news to them.

..."This is completely unknown to Oslo police. I basically have no comment and normally we do not use Dagbladet as a reliable source here at the Oslo police," [Investigation leader Iver] Stensrud told NRK (Norwegian Broadcasting)...

I'm not really much of an art lover.  I don't go to art museums and contemplate paintings, but I admire artistry, and I have a deep respect for artistic expression.  When I first heard of the theft, I was appalled, but this act leaves me horrified.

Besides, you don't have to be an art lover to recognize "The Scream"--it's gotten a lot of play in pop culture.  I've seen prints, t-shirts, buttons, all sorts of items with "The Scream" on them.

For now, I'm going to hope it isn't true.  There have got to be ways to dispose of the evidence without destroying it.  Like for example, dump it somewhere and leave an anonymous tip.  Burning the paintings seems totally unnecessary.