Isis ransacking of ancient Assyrian city (Dur-Sharrukin) confirmed by Iraq's head of antiquities
Source: The Guardian
Isis ransacking of ancient Assyrian city confirmed by Iraq's head of antiquities
Kareem Shaheen in Beirut
Thursday 12 March 2015 19.18 GMT
Iraqs director of antiquities has confirmed that Islamic State militants have ransacked the ancient city of Dur-Sharrukin near Mosul, the groups latest assault on the countrys millennia-old heritage.
News of the latest attack emerged as the European parliament passed a resolution calling for the creation of safe havens in northern Iraq to protect the countrys minorities. Accusations have also surfaced that Isis used chlorine gas against Iraqi forces attacking its stronghold in Tikrit.
(Dur-Sharrukins) city walls were razed, and some elements of the temples, but we dont know the exact extent (of the damage), Iraqs director of antiquities, Qais Rasheed, told Reuters. Looting took place, and then the razing.
The antiquities ministry acknowledged reports on Monday that Dur-Sharrukin, present day Khorsabad, had been desecrated by the militants in latest attack by Isis against Iraqs Assyrian heritage. The group also destroyed artefacts at Mosul museum, burned historical manuscripts at the citys library, destroyed a winged bull statue at the Nergal gate to ancient Nineveh and destroyed portions of the Assyrian fortress city of Hatra. It also bulldozed segments of the ancient city of Nimrud.
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