Historic Artifacts Stolen from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic statues and other artefacts have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, officials say.
The robbery was discovered on the start of the week, when museum workers allegedly found that a doorway had been damaged from the inside.
The six missing statues were marble creations and dated back to the Roman period, an authority told the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to identify the "events surrounding the disappearance of a collection of artifacts", and that actions had been enacted to enhance security and observation methods.
The chief of internal security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as declaring that authorities were investigating the incident, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".
He added that museum protectors at the facility and other individuals were being interrogated.
The cultural institution, which was created in 1919, houses the most important cultural treasures in Syria.
It features clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the Bronze Age from historical site, where evidence of the most ancient complete alphabet was uncovered; Greco-Roman period ancient art from historical site, among the foremost historical locations of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was constructed at another archaeological site.
The museum was compelled to shut in 2012, twelve months after the outbreak of the internal strife. Most of the collection was evacuated and preserved at secure places to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in recent years and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, one month after opposition groups removed the Assad regime.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or significantly impacted during the civil war.
The IS organization blew up numerous ancient buildings and other structures at the ancient city, asserting that they were un-Islamic. Unesco denounced the damage as a violation.
Many historical objects were also destroyed or stolen from historical locations and collections.
