Syrian official: Extent of damage at Palmyra temple unclear

DAMASCUS, Syria — The extent of damage from a massive explosion near the ancient Temple of Bel in Syria’s Palmyra is unclear, but it appears the structure is still standing despite an attempt by the Islamic State group to blow it up, a Syrian official said Monday.

Maamoun Abdulkarim, the head of the Antiquities and Museums Department in Damascus, said there was conflicting information about the temple, one of the most prominent structures in a sprawling Roman-era complex, because eyewitnesses are unable to approach the site.

He said there was “undoubtedly” a large explosion that took place near the temple, and that it appears that at least part of it still stands.

Activists, including a Palmyra resident, said earlier that an Islamic State bombing extensively damaged the 2,000-year-old temple Sunday.

An Islamic State operative told The Associated Press over Skype on Monday that militants detonated explosives near the temple, without elaborating on how much of it was damaged.

Residents in Palmyra told the official Syrian state news agency that Islamic State militants destroyed large parts of the temple and booby trapped other parts of it, expressing concern that they plan to destroy the rest soon.