Valuable Artifacts Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient statues and other artefacts have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report.
The burglary was discovered on Monday, when employees apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the interior.
The multiple stolen statues were marble creations and originated to the ancient Roman times, an authority told the news agency.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to determine the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a group of exhibits", and that measures had been taken to enhance protection and observation methods.
The director of internal security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as stating that law enforcement were examining the theft, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".
He added that security personnel at the institution and other individuals were being questioned.
The Damascus Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, houses the significant historical artifacts in Syria.
It includes ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the ancient era from historical site, where indications of the most ancient writing system was discovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from Palmyra, a significant historical locations of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was constructed at another archaeological site.
The institution was compelled to shut in 2012, one year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the holdings was evacuated and preserved at secret locations to ensure their safety.
It partially resumed in recent years and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, four weeks after insurgents overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or partly ruined during the conflict.
The IS organization blew up several temples and historical sites at Palmyra, claiming that they were idolatrous. Unesco condemned the damage as a war crime.
Many artefacts were also lost or looted from archaeological sites and museums.
