Ancient Statues Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient statues and additional items have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.
The burglary was discovered on Monday, when museum workers apparently found that an entrance had been broken from the inside.
The multiple missing pieces were made of marble and dated back to the Roman era, one official stated to the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to identify the "events surrounding the theft of a collection of artifacts", and that actions had been taken to improve protection and surveillance.
The chief of national security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that security forces were investigating the incident, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and unique items".
He continued that security personnel at the facility and other persons were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was created in 1919, houses the significant cultural treasures in the country.
It features ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where evidence of the most ancient complete alphabet was discovered; Greco-Roman period ancient art from historical site, a significant ancient sites of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The institution was compelled to shut in 2012, twelve months after the beginning of the internal strife. Most of the holdings was removed and stored at secure places to ensure their safety.
It partially resumed in recent years and returned to normal in early this year, one month after opposition groups removed President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or partly ruined during the conflict.
The militant faction destroyed several ancient buildings and additional edifices at the archaeological site, asserting that they were idolatrous. Unesco denounced the demolition as a violation.
Many artefacts were also lost or taken from historical locations and museums.
