Historic Statues Stolen from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic sculptures and other artefacts have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, authorities report.
The theft was found on Monday, when employees apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the inside.
The multiple missing pieces were marble creations and originated to the Roman period, an authority informed the media outlet.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to identify the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a group of exhibits", and that steps had been taken to enhance safeguarding and surveillance.
The director of domestic security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that security forces were investigating the robbery, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".
He noted that security personnel at the institution and additional people were being interrogated.
The Damascus Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, houses the most important cultural treasures in Syria.
It features ancient inscribed tablets originating to the ancient era from historical site, where evidence of the oldest known writing system was uncovered; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, one of the most important historical locations of the classical era; and a third century synagogue that was established at an ancient location.
The institution was forced to close in 2012, one year after the start of the destructive conflict. The majority of the holdings was evacuated and preserved at secret locations to protect them.
It partially resumed in 2018 and completely reopened in early this year, four weeks after insurgents overthrew the Assad regime.
Every one of nationally recognized sites were affected or partly ruined during the conflict.
The IS organization destroyed multiple temples and other structures at Palmyra, asserting that they were un-Islamic. International authorities denounced the destruction as a war crime.
Countless cultural items were also lost or looted from historical locations and collections.
