Damascus, Nov. 13 (BNA): 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 thief broke a glass display case on Monday and remained inside the building until the evening. Authorities have launched an investigation, according to the head of internal security in Damascus, Osama Mohammad Khair Atkeh.

Khair Atkeh said that specialised teams were conducting tracking and search operations to apprehend those responsible and recover the stolen artefacts. He added that security guards and officials were being questioned to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, Reuters reported.

Established in 1919, the National Museum is considered one of the most prominent symbols of Syrian and Arab heritage. It houses rare collections of artefacts that document the ancient civilisations of the Levant. The museum was closed in 2012 and was partially reopened in 2018. It resumed full operations in January 2025.

H.K, s.a