Ancient Sculptures Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic sculptures and additional items have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, authorities report.
The robbery was noticed on Monday, when museum workers reportedly found that a doorway had been forced from the interior.
The six taken sculptures were made of marble and dated back to the Roman era, one official told the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to identify the "details surrounding the loss of a collection of items", and that measures had been implemented to strengthen protection and observation methods.
The chief of national security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that security forces were probing the theft, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He continued that security personnel at the facility and other persons were being questioned.
The National Museum, which was established in 1919, holds the most important archaeological collection in the country.
It includes ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the Bronze Age from historical site, where proof of the most ancient writing system was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD classical statues from the ancient city, one of the most important historical locations of the classical era; and a ancient religious building that was established at another archaeological site.
The facility was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, a year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. The majority of the holdings was transferred and kept at secret locations to protect them.
It reopened partially in recent years and returned to normal in early this year, a month after rebel forces overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.
All six of nationally recognized sites were damaged or partly ruined during the civil war.
The militant faction blew up numerous ancient buildings and other structures at Palmyra, asserting that they were un-Islamic. International authorities condemned the destruction as a war crime.
Many cultural items were also damaged or taken from historical locations and museums.
