Historic Sculptures Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable statues and other artefacts have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, sources confirm.
The robbery was found on the start of the week, when employees apparently found that an entrance had been damaged from the interior.
The six missing statues were marble creations and dated back to the ancient Roman times, an authority told the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to determine the "events surrounding the disappearance of a number of artifacts", and that steps had been implemented to improve security and monitoring systems.
The chief of national security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that authorities were probing the theft, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and unique items".
He noted that museum protectors at the facility and other individuals were being interviewed.
The cultural institution, which was founded in the early twentieth century, contains the significant historical artifacts in Syria.
It contains historical records originating to the ancient era from historical site, where indications of the earliest linguistic system was uncovered; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, one of the most important historical locations of the classical era; and a ancient religious building that was established at an ancient location.
The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the start of the destructive conflict. The majority of the holdings was evacuated and stored at secret locations to protect them.
It began limited operations in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, a month after insurgents removed Syria's former leader.
All six of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or partially destroyed during the civil war.
The Islamic State group demolished several religious structures and other structures at Palmyra, stating that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization censured the destruction as a war crime.
Many artefacts were also damaged or taken from historical locations and collections.
