Armies looting historic sites in Middle East, warn academics

A Glasgow University academic has claimed that military personnel are involved in the looting of historic sites in Syria and Iraq.

Dr Claudia Gatz is taking a leading role in combating the threat facing war-torn ancient archaeological sites in the Middle East, some of which, she says, are seeing looting by various armies.

The university is hosting a major international conference, which began yesterday, that is discussing the international response to preserve and protect cultural heritage and historical sites.