Historic Statues Stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and additional items have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, officials say.
The robbery was discovered on the start of the week, when employees allegedly found that an entrance had been damaged from the interior.
The six taken sculptures were made of marble and originated to the Roman period, one official informed the Associated Press.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to determine the "events surrounding the theft of a group of artifacts", and that actions had been enacted to enhance security and surveillance.
The director of national security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as saying that law enforcement were investigating the theft, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and unique items".
He noted that guards at the institution and other individuals were being interrogated.
The National Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, houses the most important historical artifacts in the country.
It includes ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where indications of the most ancient complete alphabet was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from Palmyra, a significant cultural centres of the historical period; and a third century Jewish temple that was constructed at an ancient location.
The facility was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, twelve months after the start of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the holdings was removed and preserved at secret locations to ensure their safety.
It began limited operations in 2018 and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, four weeks after opposition groups deposed Syria's former leader.
Every one of nationally recognized sites were affected or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The IS organization demolished multiple ancient buildings and additional edifices at the ancient city, claiming that they were idolatrous. International authorities denounced the demolition as a atrocity.
Countless historical objects were also damaged or stolen from dig sites and collections.
