Thieves break into Damascus Museum, steal Roman statues

Thieves have broken into Syria's National Museum and stolen several ancient statues dating back to the Roman era, officials said today.

The National Museum of Damascus was briefly closed after the robbery was discovered.

The museum reopened in January as the country recovered from a 14-year civil war and the fall of the 54-year rule of the Al-Assad family last year.

The country's largest museum houses priceless antiquities. After the civil war began in March 2011, security was improved with metal gates and surveillance cameras, and authorities moved hundreds of artifacts to Damascus from across the country.

An official from Syria's General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums said six marble statues had been stolen and that an investigation was ongoing.

Another official said the robbery had taken place on Sunday evening and was discovered when one of the doors in the classical department was found broken.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity in accordance with regulations, as the government had not yet made a statement.

The chief of police in Damascus, Brigadier General Osama Atkeh, later said that several statues and rare collection items had been stolen from the museum.

The section of the museum where the statues were reported stolen is a beautiful and historically rich department with objects dating back to the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods.

The museum reopened on January 8, a month after rebels toppled President Bashar al-Assad, ushering in a new era for the country.

Years of conflict had affected areas including the historic central city of Palmyra, once held by the Islamic State group.

In 2015, ISIS members destroyed the UNESCO World Heritage site of Palmyra, which is famous for its 2000-year-old Roman columns, other ruins, and priceless artifacts.