**Syrian National Museum in Damascus robbed of Roman-era artifacts**
Syrian officials from the Department of Antiquities stated on Tuesday, November 11th, that the National Museum located in the center of the capital, Damascus, has been robbed. Thieves stole several marble statues dating back to the ancient Roman period and numerous precious artifacts, leading to the temporary closure of the museum.
A spokesperson for the Syrian Directorate of Antiquities and Museums informed the Associated Press that a total of 6 marble statues were stolen, and the investigation is still ongoing.
Another official revealed that the theft occurred on Sunday night, but it was not discovered until the following morning. A door to the classical antiquities section was broken, glass showcases were shattered, and several Roman-era statues were stolen. However, the exact number of stolen artifacts was not disclosed.
As the government has not officially announced the incident yet, both officials requested to remain anonymous.
The Syrian Directorate of Antiquities and Museums released a statement later on Tuesday, stating that an investigation has been launched into the robbery, and immediate measures have been taken to ensure the safety of the artifacts in the museum. However, they did not specify the exact contents of the stolen items, only mentioning that “some exhibits” were missing.
Former Director of the institution, Maamoun Abdulkarim, described the robbed area as “beautiful and with a long history, containing treasures dating back to the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods.”
The Department of Internal Security in Damascus announced that investigative actions are in progress, and efforts are being made to apprehend the suspects involved and recover the stolen artifacts.
The Chief of Police in Damascus, Osama Atkeh, informed local media that museum security personnel and some other individuals are currently being questioned.
The Damascus National Museum, opened in 1936, houses countless invaluable treasures and represents the extensive and diverse cultural heritage of Syria. It is regarded as one of the most important and oldest museums in the Arab world.
Since the outbreak of the civil war in March 2011, the museum has enhanced its security measures by installing metal gates and surveillance cameras. Authorities have also moved hundreds of artifacts from around the country to the capital for safekeeping.
The museum was previously closed in 2012, partially reopened in 2018, and only fully reopened in January of this year following the overthrow of the Assad regime by rebel forces, now facing closure again due to the theft case.