The Ministry of State for Antiquities (MSA) has summoned the Tourism and Antiquities Police to face an armed gang which invaded the archaeological site of Al-Hammam, located on the Alexandria-Matrouh Highway.

MSA minister Mohamed Ibrahim told Ahram Online on Sunday the gang had marched into the excavation area with machine guns.

The site comprises remains of a Graeco-Roman fortress, roads, temples and cemeteries while the excavation area includes remains of a Graeco-Roman bath, a channel for drainage water and huge limestone blocks.

The Tourism and Antiquities Police headed to the location to face the perpetrators and inspect the site to determine whether any items had been stolen.

This marks the second encroachment on Al-Hammam site, Ibrahim said, adding that the first saw a large truck invade the premises in March along with a construction bulldozer which, in turn, damaged a cluster of authentic structures dating back to the Graeco-Roman era.