D-Day banners stolen last month from French embassy returned

OTTAWA -- Two photo banners depicting Canadian soldiers landing on D-Day, stolen three weeks ago from outside the French embassy, have been returned.

An embassy spokesman says the older brother of one of the three culprits who stole the banners, has returned them.

The man told the French official his younger brother took the banners from the fence outside the embassy as a gift for his grandfather, who served in the Second World War.

He hadn't considered the consequences of his actions, the older brother says.

The giant photos were part of a 14-panel display showing Canadians landing on Juno Beach in Normandy on June 6, 1944.

Stephane Schorderet, the embassy spokesman, says the embassy does not intend to lay charges in the incident.

But he says the RCMP plans to call the three in for "a serious lecture."

The June 17 theft was recorded by security cameras and Schorderet said the faces of the trio were clearly visible.

The photo exhibition, meant as an expression of France's friendship and gratitude to Canada, will stay up until July 18.

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  One of the two photo banners from an exhibition paying tribute to the Canadian soldiers who took part in the 1944 Normandy landings. Embassy spokesman Stephane Schorderet says the banners were taken Tuesday afternoon by two young men and a young woman who drove up in a black pickup truck. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Ambassade de France au Canada)

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  One of the two photo banners from an exhibition paying tribute to the Canadian soldiers who took part in the 1944 Normandy landings have been stolen from in front of the French Embassy in Ottawa. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Ambassade de France au Canada)