Valuable Sculptures Stolen from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and other artefacts have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.
The robbery was found on the start of the week, when staff apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the inside.
The six taken pieces were marble creations and traced back to the Roman period, a source informed the Associated Press.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to identify the "details surrounding the theft of a group of items", and that actions had been implemented to strengthen safeguarding and surveillance.
The chief of domestic security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as declaring that security forces were investigating the incident, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".
He continued that museum protectors at the institution and other individuals were being interrogated.
The National Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, contains the most important historical artifacts in the country.
It features clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where evidence of the earliest complete alphabet was found; early centuries CE ancient art from the ancient city, among the foremost historical locations of the ancient world; and a ancient religious building that was constructed at an ancient location.
The facility was forced to close in 2012, one year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the artifacts was evacuated and preserved at secret locations to protect them.
It began limited operations in recent years and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, four weeks after rebel forces removed Syria's former leader.
All six of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The militant faction destroyed several ancient buildings and additional edifices at the ancient city, claiming that they were un-Islamic. International authorities condemned the demolition as a violation.
Many historical objects were also damaged or taken from historical locations and collections.
