Valuable Statues Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and other artefacts have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.
The burglary was noticed on Monday, when employees reportedly found that one of the museum's doors had been forced from the interior.
The half-dozen taken pieces were crafted from marble and originated to the ancient Roman times, an authority informed the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to establish the "details surrounding the loss of a group of exhibits", and that steps had been implemented to enhance safeguarding and monitoring systems.
The head of national security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as stating that law enforcement were investigating the theft, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and unique items".
He continued that guards at the institution and other individuals were being interrogated.
The Damascus Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, holds the primary historical artifacts in the country.
It contains historical records tracing back to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where proof of the earliest writing system was uncovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from historical site, one of the most important ancient sites of the historical period; and a third century synagogue that was established at another archaeological site.
The institution was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. Most of the holdings was transferred and stored at undisclosed sites to protect them.
It partially resumed in recent years and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, a month after rebel forces overthrew Syria's former leader.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or partially destroyed during the civil war.
The IS organization blew up numerous ancient buildings and historical sites at Palmyra, stating that they were un-Islamic. Unesco denounced the damage as a atrocity.
Countless artefacts were also damaged or looted from historical locations and museums.
