"Wants to Talk with the Pope"... Tourist Arrested for Throwing Ancient Statue at Vatican Museum

Two Ancient Busts Thrown to the Floor and Stolen
Museum Exhibits Over 1,000 Sculptures

A tourist threw two ancient busts from the Vatican Museums onto the floor and fled but was caught by the police.
[Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Gun-chan] A tourist who threw two ancient busts to the floor and damaged them at the Vatican Museums, one of the world's three major museums, and then tried to flee was caught by the police.

According to Italy's ANSA news agency and the daily newspaper La Repubblica, at around 12:45 PM local time on the 5th, an Egyptian-born American tourist threw two ancient busts to the floor inside the Chiarmonti Museum at the Vatican Museums.

The two damaged busts were moved to the restoration center. One of the busts reportedly lost its nose, but the damage was not considered severe.

The tourist reportedly demanded to speak with Pope Francis from museum staff. When the museum refused, the man became agitated, threw two ancient busts displayed in the gallery to the floor, and fled.

The man was later caught by the Vatican's own police force, the Gendarmerie, and handed over to the Rome police.

Local media, citing witnesses, are placing emphasis on the possibility that the man may be mentally ill. Police investigations are currently ongoing.

The Chiarmonti Museum exhibits about 1,000 sculptures, including a statue of Augustus, the first emperor of Rome.

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