🔗 Share this article

Historic sculptures and other artefacts have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.

The robbery was discovered on the start of the week, when staff allegedly found that an entrance had been forced from the interior.

The multiple stolen sculptures were marble creations and originated to the ancient Roman times, an authority stated to the Associated Press.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to determine the "details surrounding the loss of a collection of items", and that actions had been taken to enhance safeguarding and observation methods.

The director of national security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as saying that security forces were investigating the theft, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".

He noted that museum protectors at the museum and other individuals were being interrogated.

The Damascus Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, contains the primary cultural treasures in Syria.

It contains clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where proof of the oldest known complete alphabet was discovered; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, a significant cultural centres of the historical period; and a ancient synagogue that was constructed at another archaeological site.

The institution was had to cease operations in 2012, a year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. Most of the artifacts was transferred and preserved at undisclosed sites to protect them.

It began limited operations in 2018 and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, a month after insurgents deposed President Bashar al-Assad.

Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or partially destroyed during the conflict.

The Islamic State group demolished multiple ancient buildings and additional edifices at the ancient city, asserting that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization denounced the demolition as a war crime.

Many historical objects were also destroyed or looted from historical locations and cultural institutions.