Al-Qaeda Seizes Control of Ancient Jewish Torah Scrolls From Damascus Synagogue

From the Times of Israel:

Torah scrolls and other Judaica plundered from an ancient Damascus synagogue are being held by an Islamist group inside Syria, which is demanding the release of prisoners captured by the Assad regime in return for the items, The Times of Israel has learned. 

Reports on the destruction and looting of the millennia-old Jobar synagogue in Damascus emerged as early as March, but those responsible for the theft have never been clearly identified, as government and opposition forces traded accusations. 

The Jobar synagogue was said to be built on the site where the prophet Elijah concealed himself from persecution and anointed his successor, Elisha, as a prophet. It had been damaged in March by mortars reportedly fired by Syrian government forces. 

A source involved in negotiating for the release of the Judaica and their extraction from Syria, speaking to The Times of Israel on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said the objects were being held inside Syria by a group affiliated with the Al-Nusra Front, an Islamist organization associated with al-Qaeda and defined as a terrorist organization by the US. 

He said the stolen items include at least three or four Torah scrolls as well as ancient Jewish scrolls and silverware.