An American tourist is in police custody for allegedly smashing statues at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
Israeli police shared images of two ancient Roman statues, dating back to the 2nd Century, lying in pieces on the museum floor.
According to the police, the man damaged the statues because he claimed they went against the teachings of the Torah, Judaism’s most significant text.
However, his lawyer has denied that religious fanaticism motivated his actions.
Museum staff alerted the police after witnessing the man damaging the statues.
The damaged pieces include a sculpture of the head of Athena, daughter of the Greek god Zeus, and a statue of a griffin holding the wheel of fate, associated with the Roman god Nemesis.
These artifacts are part of the Israel Museum’s permanent exhibition and have been moved to a conservation lab for professional restoration.
The 40-year-old American citizen was arrested at the scene and is currently undergoing questioning by Israeli police.
The suspect’s identity has not been released yet. During the initial investigation, the man claimed that the statues represented idol worship.
This incident follows a similar one in February when a Jewish American tourist vandalized a statue of Christ with a hammer at the Church of the Flagellation on the Way of the Cross in Jerusalem.
The Israel Museum has described the damage as a “troubling and unusual event” and has condemned “all forms of violence.” Despite the incident, the museum remains open to the public.
Source-BBC
