Valuable Sculptures Removed from the National Museum in Damascus
Valuable statues and cultural objects have been taken from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, authorities report.
The burglary was noticed on Monday, when employees apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the inside.
The six stolen statues were marble creations and dated back to the Roman period, one official told the news agency.
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 taken to improve safeguarding and observation methods.
The chief of internal security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as stating that security forces were probing the theft, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and unique items".
He continued that security personnel at the facility and other individuals were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was founded in 1919, houses the primary historical artifacts in the country.
It features ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where evidence of the oldest known complete alphabet was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, among the foremost cultural centres of the historical period; and a third century synagogue that was built at another archaeological site.
The museum was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, twelve months after the beginning of the destructive conflict. Most of the collection was evacuated and kept at secret locations to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in 2018 and completely reopened in early this year, a month after insurgents overthrew Syria's former leader.
All six of nationally recognized sites were affected or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The Islamic State group blew up several ancient buildings and additional edifices at Palmyra, asserting that they were idolatrous. Unesco denounced the damage as a violation.
Many cultural items were also lost or stolen from dig sites and museums.
