Valuable Statues Stolen from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient statues and additional items have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, authorities report.
The robbery was found on Monday, when employees apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the interior.
The six stolen statues were made of marble and originated to the Roman era, one official informed the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "events surrounding the disappearance of a group of exhibits", and that actions had been implemented to improve safeguarding and observation methods.
The head of national security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the official media as declaring that security forces were investigating the incident, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and unique items".
He noted that guards at the institution and additional people were being interviewed.
The Damascus Museum, which was founded in 1919, contains the primary cultural treasures in the country.
It contains historical records tracing back to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where proof of the earliest complete alphabet was uncovered; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, a significant ancient sites of the classical era; and a ancient synagogue that was built at Dura Europos.
The facility was compelled to shut in 2012, twelve months after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. Most of the holdings was evacuated and preserved at secure places to protect them.
It partially resumed in recent years and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, one month after insurgents removed Syria's former leader.
Each of the six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The Islamic State group blew up several religious structures and historical sites at the ancient city, claiming that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization denounced the demolition as a atrocity.
Numerous historical objects were also damaged or looted from dig sites and collections.
