ISIS Beheads Leading Syrian Antiquities Scholar in Palmyra

ISIS extremists beheaded one of Syria’s most prominent antiquities scholars in the ancient town of Palmyra
ISIS Beheads Leading Syrian Antiquities Scholar in Palmyra
This photo released on Sunday, May 17, 2015, by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows the general view of the ancient Roman city of Palmyra, northeast of Damascus, Syria. SANA via AP
The Associated Press
Updated:

DAMASCUS, Syria—ISIS extremists beheaded one of Syria’s most prominent antiquities scholars in the ancient town of Palmyra, then hung his body from one of the town’s Roman columns, Syrian state media and an activist group said Wednesday.

The killing of 81-year-old Khaled al-Asaad was the latest atrocity perpetrated by the extremist group, which has captured a third of both Syria and neighboring Iraq and declared a self-styled “caliphate” on the territory it controls.