A grave robber was killed when a Chinese tomb about 1,000 years old collapsed in the northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, police said.

Seven grave robbers, all natives of Chifeng City, broke into the tomb in the Aluke'erqin Banner from the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) that ruled in the north, intending to loot, police said.

No sooner had they entered the tomb on June 5 than the brick-made building collapsed, trapping one man, surnamed Quan. Policemen arrived and seized the other six who were trying but failed to rescue Quan.

They found nothing in the tomb which had probably already been looted, police said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2008)