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| Just days after seizing Palmyra, Isis massacres 400 people in the ancient city | Just days after seizing Palmyra, Isis massacres 400 people in the ancient city |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Isis has slaughtered more than 400 mostly women and children in the ancient city of Palmyra, two days after capturing the ancient city. | Isis has slaughtered more than 400 mostly women and children in the ancient city of Palmyra, two days after capturing the ancient city. |
| Syrian state television reported the massacre, quoting residents of the city. | Syrian state television reported the massacre, quoting residents of the city. |
| The state news agency said: "The terrorists have killed more than 400 people.. and mutilated their bodies, under the pretext that they cooperated with the government and did not follow orders." | The state news agency said: "The terrorists have killed more than 400 people.. and mutilated their bodies, under the pretext that they cooperated with the government and did not follow orders." |
| Opposition activists claimed that hundreds of bodies littered the streets. They said that many of the victims were from groups or families loyal to the government. | Opposition activists claimed that hundreds of bodies littered the streets. They said that many of the victims were from groups or families loyal to the government. |
| Amongst the dead were state employees - including the head of the nursing department at the city hospital, and all of her family members. | Amongst the dead were state employees - including the head of the nursing department at the city hospital, and all of her family members. |
| Isis supporters released videos of militants searching government buildings, looking for victims and pulling down pictures of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and his father. | Isis supporters released videos of militants searching government buildings, looking for victims and pulling down pictures of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad and his father. |
| Palmyra, a city of 50,000 people is known for its world-famous Roman ruins, including well-preserved temples, colonnades, and a theatre. | Palmyra, a city of 50,000 people is known for its world-famous Roman ruins, including well-preserved temples, colonnades, and a theatre. |
| Fears are growing that the group will destroy these priceless remains, given their past record. | Fears are growing that the group will destroy these priceless remains, given their past record. |
| As well as their extreme violence towards their enemies, Isis also seek to destroy ancient artifacts, of which Palmyra has many. In February, a video emerged of Isis militant ransacking a museum in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, destroying ancient statues with hammers and drills. | As well as their extreme violence towards their enemies, Isis also seek to destroy ancient artifacts, of which Palmyra has many. In February, a video emerged of Isis militant ransacking a museum in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, destroying ancient statues with hammers and drills. |
| Upon entering Palmyra, the group captured a prison in the city, and released images of weapons and explosives they seized there. | Upon entering Palmyra, the group captured a prison in the city, and released images of weapons and explosives they seized there. |
| #ISIS releases pictures of war spoils seized in #Palmyra's notorious Tadmor prison. pic.twitter.com/qsmJJA1ILH | #ISIS releases pictures of war spoils seized in #Palmyra's notorious Tadmor prison. pic.twitter.com/qsmJJA1ILH |
| Isis only captured the ancient city on Wednesday, yet have already shown incredible violence and brutality to the city's residents. | Isis only captured the ancient city on Wednesday, yet have already shown incredible violence and brutality to the city's residents. |
| Although it is not immediately possible to verify the accounts, the story is consistent with reports that Isis fighters has carried out numerous executions since taking the city. | Although it is not immediately possible to verify the accounts, the story is consistent with reports that Isis fighters has carried out numerous executions since taking the city. |
| Rami Abdurahman, from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that a large number of Syrian troops had disappeared, and it is not yet clear where they are. | Rami Abdurahman, from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said that a large number of Syrian troops had disappeared, and it is not yet clear where they are. |
| However, pictures released today by Isis propaganda channels show what they claim is a group of 20 Syrian army soldiers, that they claim were captured in Palmyra. | |
| #Syrian soldiers captured by #ISIS fighters in #Palmyra pic.twitter.com/ApSVfb7mMB | |
| There is no confirmation yet that they men in the picture are the missing soldiers, nor that they are who Isis claims them to be. | |
| The capture of Palmyra is of strategic importance - the city is close to military bases and gasfields, which can provide the group with weapons, fuel and money. | The capture of Palmyra is of strategic importance - the city is close to military bases and gasfields, which can provide the group with weapons, fuel and money. |
| There are also a number of highways that lead to the capital of Damascus, the refuge of President Bashar Al-Assad. | There are also a number of highways that lead to the capital of Damascus, the refuge of President Bashar Al-Assad. |
| Additional reporting by Reuters | Additional reporting by Reuters |