Historic Sculptures Removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus

Ancient statues and other artefacts have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm.

The burglary was found on Monday, when employees allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the interior.

The six stolen sculptures were made of marble and originated to the Roman period, a source stated to the Associated Press.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to identify the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a collection of items", and that steps had been taken to strengthen safeguarding and monitoring systems.

The director of domestic security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that security forces were examining the theft, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and unique items".

He added that security personnel at the museum and other individuals were being interviewed.

The cultural institution, which was created in 1919, contains the most important archaeological collection in the country.

It includes historical records tracing back to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where evidence of the earliest writing system was found; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, among the foremost ancient sites of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was built at another archaeological site.

The facility was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, a year after the start of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the artifacts was evacuated and kept at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.

It began limited operations in recent years and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, four weeks after insurgents overthrew Syria's former leader.

Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.

The Islamic State group demolished several temples and historical sites at the archaeological site, claiming that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization condemned the demolition as a war crime.

Numerous historical objects were also lost or stolen from historical locations and museums.