The destruction of cultural heritage is a senseless form of violent extremism which seeks to destroy the past, the present and the future of human civilisation, according to the UN Deputy Secretary-General.

Jan Eliasson spoke on Thursday at UN’s headquarters in New York about the international community’s growing concern over the takeover of the city of Palmyra in Syria by the ISIL terrorist group.

Palmyra is a registered UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains monumental ruins dating back to the 1st and 2nd century.

Cathrine Hasselberg reports.

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