Historic Artifacts Stolen from the National Museum in Damascus
Ancient statues and additional items have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.
The burglary was noticed on the start of the week, when museum workers apparently found that a doorway had been damaged from the inside.
The multiple missing statues were crafted from marble and originated to the Roman period, one official stated to the media outlet.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to determine the "events surrounding the loss of a group of exhibits", and that actions had been implemented to enhance security and observation methods.
The director of internal security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the official media as declaring that law enforcement were probing the incident, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".
He noted that guards at the facility and other individuals were being interrogated.
The cultural institution, which was established in 1919, houses the most important historical artifacts in the country.
It includes historical records dating back to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where evidence of the most ancient writing system was found; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, a significant cultural centres of the ancient world; and a third century synagogue that was built at an ancient location.
The facility was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, twelve months after the beginning of the internal strife. A large portion of the holdings was evacuated and preserved at secret locations to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in 2018 and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, a month after opposition groups deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of nationally recognized sites were damaged or partly ruined during the internal struggle.
The militant faction blew up several temples and other structures at Palmyra, stating that they were against their beliefs. International authorities denounced the demolition as a war crime.
Many artefacts were also lost or stolen from archaeological sites and collections.
