Historic Statues Stolen from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic statues and additional items have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, sources confirm.
The theft was noticed on Monday, when staff allegedly found that a doorway had been damaged from the interior.
The half-dozen stolen pieces were made of marble and originated to the ancient Roman times, a source stated to the news agency.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to establish the "events surrounding the theft of a number of exhibits", and that steps had been implemented to improve security and observation methods.
The director of internal security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as declaring that law enforcement were probing the incident, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".
He added that security personnel at the institution and other persons were being interviewed.
The Damascus Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, contains the significant archaeological collection in Syria.
It includes historical records originating to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where indications of the most ancient writing system was uncovered; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, among the foremost historical locations of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was built at an ancient location.
The facility was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, a year after the beginning of the internal strife. Most of the collection was removed and preserved at undisclosed sites to protect them.
It partially resumed in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, four weeks after insurgents overthrew the Assad regime.
Each of the six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or partly ruined during the internal struggle.
The Islamic State group blew up multiple religious structures and additional edifices at Palmyra, stating that they were idolatrous. International authorities denounced the destruction as a war crime.
Numerous artefacts were also lost or looted from dig sites and cultural institutions.
