World

Purported Islamic State video: Militants shot, hammered away Iraq's ancient city of Hatra

Associated Press
Published | Updated

In this image made from a militant video posted on YouTube on Friday, April 3, 2015, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, a piece falls off from a curved face on the wall of an ancient building as a militant hammers it in Hatra, a large fortified city recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, 110 kilometers (68 miles) southwest of Mosul, Iraq. (AP Photo/Militant video) (The Associated Press)

Map shows Hatra, Iraq.; 1c x 2 inches; 46.5 mm x 50 mm; (The Associated Press)

In this image made from a militant video posted on YouTube on Friday, April 3, 2015, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, a militant uses an axe to destroy a statue in Hatra, a large fortified city recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, 110 kilometers (68 miles) southwest of Mosul, Iraq. Islamic State extremists at Iraq's ancient city of Hatra destroyed the archaeological site by smashing sledgehammers into its walls and shooting Kalashnikov assault rifles at priceless statues, a new militant video purportedly from the group shows. (AP Photo/Militant video) (The Associated Press)

A purported Islamic State group video shows extremists at Iraq's ancient city of Hatra destroying it with sledgehammers and shooting Kalashnikov assault rifles at priceless statues.

Hatra is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which officials last month said the extremists had destroyed.

In the video, released overnight Friday, a militant on a ladder uses a sledgehammer to bang repeatedly on the back of one of the carved faces until it crashes to the ground and breaks into pieces. The video also shows a militant firing a Kalashnikov rifle at another.

The video corresponded with Associated Press reporting on the attack and was posted to a militant website frequently used by the group.

Local government officials told the AP last month the militant group had looted ancient sites.