In a landmark case for cultural crimes, a radical Islamist leader will face trial in The Hague for the destruction of historic tombs in the ancient city of Timbuktu.

The case, the first ever war-crimes prosecution in The Hague for acts of cultural destruction, could set a precedent for further arrests for similar attacks on historic buildings in places such as Palmyra, the ancient site in Syria where temples and tombs have been blown up by Islamic State extremists in recent weeks.

Ahmad al-Mahdi al-Faqi, also known as Abu Tourab, was brought to The Hague on Saturday on an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. He is charged with overseeing the destruction of nine mausoleums and a mosque in Timbuktu in 2012 after the legendary city in northern Mali was captured by Islamists with links to al-Qaeda.

Read more: The Globe and Mail (Can)