Historic Statues Taken from the National Museum in Damascus
Historic statues and additional items have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, sources confirm.
The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when employees reportedly found that an entrance had been broken from the interior.
The multiple stolen statues were made of marble and traced back to the Roman era, an authority stated to the Associated Press.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "details surrounding the disappearance of a number of artifacts", and that measures had been implemented to strengthen protection and surveillance.
The chief of national security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that authorities were probing the incident, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He noted that guards at the institution and other persons were being interrogated.
The cultural institution, which was established in 1919, houses the primary archaeological collection in Syria.
It features ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the Bronze Age from historical site, where indications of the earliest complete alphabet was discovered; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, among the foremost cultural centres of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was established at Dura Europos.
The museum was forced to close in 2012, a year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. Most of the collection was evacuated and kept at undisclosed sites to protect them.
It reopened partially in 2018 and completely reopened in early this year, a month after rebel forces overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.
Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were affected or significantly impacted during the civil war.
The Islamic State group blew up numerous temples and historical sites at Palmyra, claiming that they were against their beliefs. Unesco condemned the destruction as a violation.
Numerous artefacts were also damaged or taken from historical locations and museums.
