MIDEAST-CRISIS/PALMYRA-FILE Islamic State militants blow up temple in ancient city of Palmyra

Record ID: 142797

  • Title: MIDEAST-CRISIS/PALMYRA-FILE Islamic State militants blow up temple in ancient city of Palmyra
  • Date: 24th August 2015
  • Summary: PALMYRA, SYRIA (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF VICTORY ARCH IN PALMYRA VARIOUS OF MONUMENTS SIGN READING (Arabic and English): "BELL TEMPLE - GREEK HOUSE- TOMBS VALLEY" TOURIST LOOKING AT MUMMIES IN GLASS DISPLAY CASE IN PALMYRA NATIONAL MUSEUM VARIOUS OF MUMMIES ON DISPLAY VARIOUS OF ANTIQUE POTTERY IN GLASS DISPLAY CASES VARIOUS OF MONUMENTS VARIOUS OF ANTIQUE STONE STATUES VARIOUS OF TOURISTS VISITING ARCHAEOLOGICAL BUILDINGS
  • Embargoed: 8th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAE7433U2YIG95MIQFP2AVLH4AT
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Islamic State militants on Sunday (August 23) blew up the temple of Baal Shamin, one of the most important sites in Syria's ancient city of Palmyra, said Maamoun Abdul Karim, the country's antiquities chief.
    The temple bombing would be the first time the insurgents, who control swathes of Syria and Iraq and captured Palmyra in May, damaged monumental Roman-era ruins.
    A week ago, the militants beheaded Khaled Asaad, an 82-year-old scholar who worked for more than 50 years as head of antiquities in Palmyra, after detaining and interrogating him for over a month.
    Before the city's capture by Islamic State, Syrian officials said they moved hundreds of ancient statues to safe locations out of concern that the militants would destroy them.
    In June, Islamic State blew up two ancient shrines in Palmyra that were not part of its Roman-era structures but which the militants regarded as pagan and sacrilegious.
    The militants were also beginning excavation for gold and giving licenses for illicit excavation of the city's treasures, Abdul Karim added.
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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