ISLAMIC State militants have released a propaganda video showing its members bulldozing the ancient Iraqi city of Nimrud and destroying 3,000-year-old relics.
Archaeologists reacted with outrage after the seven-minute film showing IS thugs hammering at beautiful stone artworks in the 13th century town was posted last night on the internet.
The film also shows militants filling barrels with explosives, detonating them in three areas of the city near the IS stronghold of Mosul.
It is the latest in a string of shocking videos showing Islamic State thugs destroying invaluable heritage sites.
Footage emerged last week showing members of the terror group using sledgehammers and AK-47 rifles to destroy walls and statues in Iraq’s UNESCO World Heritage city of Hatra.
In the latest video of the attack on Nimrud — labelled “a war crime” by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon — one militant says: “God has honoured us in the Islamic State to remove all of these idols and statutes worshipped instead of Allah.”
Another speaks of spreading “monotheism” – one religion – in “every single territory we acquire”.
He threatens to “destroy the graves and shrines” of Shi-ites, “smash” Christian crosses and demolish the White House in the US.