Historic Statues Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable statues and cultural objects have been removed from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm.
The theft was found on Monday, when museum workers allegedly found that an entrance had been damaged from the inside.
The six missing sculptures were marble creations and dated back to the Roman period, an authority told the Associated Press.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a group of exhibits", and that actions had been enacted to strengthen security and monitoring systems.
The head of national security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that law enforcement were investigating the theft, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He continued that security personnel at the institution and other individuals were being interviewed.
The cultural institution, which was established in the early twentieth century, houses the significant historical artifacts in Syria.
It features ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where evidence of the oldest known linguistic system was found; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, a significant historical locations of the classical era; and a ancient synagogue that was built at an ancient location.
The facility was forced to close in the early 2010s, one year after the outbreak of the internal strife. Most of the artifacts was removed and preserved at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.
It partially resumed in recent years and returned to normal in early this year, one month after opposition groups deposed Syria's former leader.
Every one of nationally recognized sites were harmed or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.
The militant faction blew up numerous temples and additional edifices at Palmyra, claiming that they were un-Islamic. International authorities denounced the damage as a atrocity.
Countless artefacts were also lost or stolen from historical locations and collections.
