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Islamic State 'blows up Palmyra arch' Islamic State 'blows up Palmyra arch'
(about 1 hour later)
Islamic State militants in northern Syria have blown up another monument in the ancient city of Palmyra, Syria's antiquities chief says. Islamic State militants in northern Syria have blown up another monument in the ancient city of Palmyra, officials and local sources say.
Maamoun Abdulkarim told Reuters news agency that the militants - who control the city - blew up the Arch of Triumph. The Arch of Triumph was "pulverised" by the militants who control the city, a Palmyra activist told AFP news agency.
It is thought to have been built about 2,000 years ago.It is thought to have been built about 2,000 years ago.
IS militants have already destroyed several temples at the site, described by Unesco as one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world. IS fighters have already destroyed two ancient temples at the site, described by Unesco as one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world.
Unesco's director-general Irina Bokova has said the destruction constitutes a "war crime" and called on the international community to stand united against IS efforts to "deprive the Syrian people of its knowledge, its identity and history". "The Arch of Triumph was pulverised. IS has destroyed it," Mohammad Hassan al-Homsi, an activist from Palmyra told AFP on Monday.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an activist group monitoring the conflict, said sources on the ground had confirmed the destruction.
Syrian antiquities chief Maamoun Abdulkarim also confirmed the news, and told Reuters news agency that if IS remains in control of Palmyra, "the city is doomed".
Ancient city of PalmyraAncient city of Palmyra
IS threat to 'Venice of the Sands'IS threat to 'Venice of the Sands'
History's lesson in how to save artefactsHistory's lesson in how to save artefacts
Understanding sadness at loss of sitesUnderstanding sadness at loss of sites
Why IS destroys ancient sitesWhy IS destroys ancient sites
Unesco's director general Irina Bokova has said the destruction constitutes a "war crime" and called on the international community to stand united against IS efforts to "deprive the Syrian people of its knowledge, its identity and history".
IS militants captured the historic site from Syrian government forces in May, and proceeded to destroy some of the temples and artefacts.
The group believes any shrines or statues implying the existence of another deity are sacrilege and idolatry, and should be destroyed.
In August, IS destroyed the ancient Temple of Baalshamin - one of the city's best-known buildings built nearly 2,000 years ago.
The group has also published photos of militants destroying what it said were artefacts looted at Palmyra.