US tourist arrested in Israel for destroying statues at museum

An American tourist was arrested in Israel yesterday for vandalising ancient Roman statues that he criticised as “blasphemous” and “against the Torah” at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

According to The Times of Israel, the 40-year-old visitor was taken into custody by the Israel Police for purposefully causing damage to ancient Roman statues exhibited at the Israel Museum.

The Museum confirmed that the damages included ‘ancient Roman statues from the 2nd century CE,’ which were part of the archaeology wing’s collection. Photos released by authorities show the sculptures, dislodged from their bases, lying on the ground – one with a detached head, and the other fragmented into multiple pieces.

Eli Escusido, head of Israel Antiquities Authority, said: “One statue is a marble depiction of the goddess Athena that was found in excavations at Beit She’an in the 1960s. The second was of the mythological creature, Griffin, who was the symbol of divinity in the Roman pagan era and found in the Negev.”

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“This is a shocking case of destruction of cultural heritage. We view with great concern the fact that religious extremists take such action,” he said.

Moreover, the Museum said the attack was “worrying” and “severe”, but noted that it would not affect its operations or opening hours. The damaged sculptures have been transferred to the Museum’s conservation laboratory for expert restoration.

“This is an unusual incident,” the Museum said in a statement. “We condemn all forms of violence and hope such events do not happen again.”

Israeli law enforcement announced that the investigation is ongoing and that the suspect is scheduled to appear before the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court on Thursday for a hearing to consider an extension of his detainment.

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