According to the antiquities ministry in Baghdad, Islamic State (IS) militants have "bulldozed" the ancient Assyrian archaeological site of Nimrud near Mosul in Iraq.
The ministry said that IS had used heavy military vehicles but did not give details of the damage at the site, reported the Independent.
Nimrud, once one of the most important cities of the Assyrian empire, served as the main residence for the dynasty's kings until 727 BC.
Excavations at the site were started by the British archaeologist Austen Henry Lanyard who brought more than six pairs of colossal statues of lions and bulls, known as lamassu, to the UK. They are now kept in the British Museum.
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