Six ancient statues stolen from Syria’s National Museum of Damascus
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People visiting the National Museum of Damascus on Jan 8 after it reopened to the public, following the ouster of former president Bashar al-Assad.
PHOTO: AFP
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- Six ancient statues were stolen from the National Museum of Damascus on November 10th.
- A thief broke into a display case and stayed in the museum until evening, prompting an investigation.
- Authorities are searching for the responsible individuals and questioning staff following the incident at the museum.
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DAMASCUS – Six ancient statues have been stolen from the National Museum of Damascus, which is one of the Middle East’s oldest cultural institutions and houses a collection showing Syria’s archaeological and artistic heritage.
A source at the museum told Reuters that a thief broke a glass display case on Nov 10 and apparently stayed inside the building until evening.
The authorities have launched an investigation, according to the head of internal security in Damascus, Brigadier-General Osama Mohammad Khair Atkeh.
Brig-Gen Khair Atkeh, quoted by state news agency Sana, said specialised teams were conducting tracking and search operations to arrest those responsible and recover the stolen artefacts.
Security guards and officials were being questioned to determine the circumstances of the incident, he added.
Established in 1919, the National Museum closed in 2012 because of fighting in the capital at the start of the country’s civil war. It partially reopened in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, a month after rebels toppled former president
A woman visiting the National Museum of Damascus on Jan 9, after its reopening.
PHOTO: REUTERS
