IS Militants Bulldozed Iraq's Ancient City of Nimrud

World | March 6, 2015, Friday // 12:53
Bulgaria: IS Militants Bulldozed Iraq's Ancient City of Nimrud Photo: EPA/BGNES

Islamic State militants started bulldozing historic artefacts Thursday, located in the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud, today's Iraq.

Jihadists from the terrorist organization started demolishing the site founded in 13th c BC, as stated by Iraqi officials, the BBC reported.

According to a Reuters report, militants invaded the city, looted valuables and then immediately started destroying historic monuments with bulldozers.

"They are erasing our history," Iraqi archaeologist Lamia al-Gailani said.

The main reasoning behind the acts is said to be the fact that the statues are ''false idols'', i.e. are not tokens of the Islamic religion.

A number of the artefacts have been removed from the site to international museums, but a large number is still located in Iraq's museums.

Meanwhile, UNESCO called the situation ''a military crime''. Director-General Irina Bokova condemned the terrorist act ''with the highest force'' and called on all religious leaders in the region to oppose it.

The vandalism happened merely a week after a previous jihadist attack on a museum in Iraq's city of Mosul

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Tags: Iraq, Nimrud, Islamic state, militants, terrorist act, military crime, UNESCO, Irina Bokova, Assyria, vandalism, bulldozers

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