Thieves stole six ancient gold ingots from Damascus museum, with staff detained and questioned following the overnight heist.
DAMASCUS: Thieves have stolen several ancient gold ingots from Syria’s national museum.
A security source and another source close to the museum’s management confirmed the robbery on Tuesday.
The theft occurred overnight from Sunday to Monday in the museum’s classical wing.
Six gold items were taken from one of the institution’s most important sections.
The classical wing houses artefacts from the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine eras.
A museum manager declined to comment, stating the facility “is closed for security reasons and will reopen next week”.
Syrian authorities have not officially confirmed the burglary.
Several employees and guards were detained for questioning before being released.
Security forces have forbidden staff from entering exhibition halls since the incident.
The museum appeared closed and normal during AFP’s visit on its regular weekly closure day.
The institution had previously closed briefly during political transitions before reopening in January.
Its collections include tens of thousands of items spanning Syria’s entire history.
During the civil war, many archaeological pieces were moved to the museum for safekeeping.
The conflict saw widespread looting of cultural sites and artefacts across Syria.
Stolen antiquities have generated millions of dollars for traffickers throughout the war period. – AFP
