For alternate versions of the Robbery of the Museum of Great Britain, see the Robbery of the Museum of Great Britain's Event Hub |
- "How do you think your ancestors got these? Do you think they paid a fair price? Or did they take it... like they took everything else?"
- ―Erik Killmonger to Fiona Thomas[src]
The Robbery of the Museum of Great Britain was a planned criminal heist orchestrated by Erik Killmonger and Ulysses Klaue.
Background[]
- "Ulysses Klaue, stole a quarter ton of vibranium from us and triggered a bomb at the border to escape. Many lives were lost. He knew where we hid the vibranium, and how to strike."
- ―Black Panther[src]
In 1992, South African arms dealer Ulysses Klaue was enlisted by Prince N'Jobu of Wakanda to infiltrate the isolationist country and steal a cache of Vibranium. While Klaue's mission was successful, N'Jobu was executed by his older brother, King T'Chaka, after his role in the attack was exposed.[1] Meanwhile, Klaue was branded with the Wakandan symbol for "thief" as punishment for stealing the vibranium.
Twenty-three years later, Klaue was forced to surrender the metal to the rogue artificial intelligence Ultron, who cut off the dealer's left arm in a fit of rage. Klaue then managed to escape with his life while Ultron and the Avengers engaged in an open confrontation.[2]
Using stolen Wakandan mining technology to create a weaponized prosthetic arm, Klaue proceeded to team up with former black-ops mercenary Erik Stevens before setting out to steal and sell weapons made of vibranium on the black market.[1]
Robbery[]
- "Whatever you try, the Wakandans will probably show up."
"That'll make my day. Kill two birds with one stone." - ―Erik Killmonger and Ulysses Klaue[src]

Erik Killmonger quietly observing artifacts
Learning about the existence of a warhammer being housed in the Museum of Great Britain in London, Stevens and Klaue made their way to England with their criminal associates Linda and Limbani. Upon arriving in London, Ulysses Klaue and Limbani went undercover as paramedics while Linda began working at the museum as a barista.

Erik Killmonger threatening Fiona Thomas
On the day the heist was set to take place, Erik Stevens infiltrated the museum in civilian clothes and made his way to the exhibit where the warhammer was on display. As he stared at the warhammer, Director Fiona Thomas entered the exhibit with a cup of tea in her hand, looking at Stevens' curiosity upon one of the artifacts. Noticing his interest, Thomas immediately struck up a discussion about the historical context of two tribal masks that were also on display.

Ulysses Klaue finds the vibranium axe
When Stevens asked about the warhammer's historical context, Thomas stated that it was originated from Benin and was taken from the Fula tribe before sipping her tea. Stevens then corrected her, stating that, while the warhammer was taken from the Fula by British soldiers, it originated from Wakanda. Thomas began to choke, as Stevens told her that he had poisoned her drink. The Medics arrived to the scene, but the guards were killed, revealing to be Limbani and Klaue.

Ulysses Klaue and his crew make their escape
Meanwhile, Killmonger's girlfriend, Linda has hacked the security feed to loop footage as if nothing is happening in the African exhibit. Klaue teased a guard with the chance to escape, only to shoot him too, and uses his prosthetic arm to shatter the glass and vibrate the unimportant material off of the vibranium. With the metal acquired, Killmonger, Linda, and Klaue escaped into an ambulance and got away.[1]
Aftermath[]
- "A misidentified Wakandan artifact was stolen yesterday from a British museum. We have learned Ulysses Klaue plans to sell the vibranium to an American buyer in South Korea tomorrow night."
- ―Okoye to T'Challa[src]
The robbery became public knowledge, and it put Ulysses Klaue on the radar of Wakanda in order to try to capture him. General Okoye of the Dora Milaje discovered Klaue and his men were taking the artifact to South Korea, where he was planning to sell it to an American contact.[1]
Trivia[]
- Ryan Coogler wanted to use the British Museum in Black Panther, but the museum did not allow the shooting, so Coogler set the scene in the fictional Museum of Great Britain instead.[3]