Man damaged two sphinxes at Rudolfinum with hammer; damage estimated at 90,000 crowns
A forty-year-old man damaged two stone sphinx sculptures at Prague's Rudolfinum with a hammer on Wednesday. Police detained him at the scene; the motive remains unknown. He faces up to three years in prison.
Man damaged two sphinxes at Rudolfinum with hammer; damage estimated at 90,000 crowns
On Wednesday afternoon, a forty-year-old man attacked two stone sphinx sculptures guarding the side staircase of Prague's Rudolfinum with a hammer. The attack caused damage of approximately 90,000 crowns. Police officers detained the perpetrator immediately after the incident at the site of the damaged sculptures.
"The suspect struck the sculptures with nearly twenty blows using a tool weighing one and a half kilogrammes," said police spokesman Jan Daněk. During questioning, however, the man refused to provide a statement and declined to disclose what prompted him to commit the act. "We do not know his motive at this time," the spokesman added.
The damaged sculptures are part of the extensive exterior decoration of the Neo-Renaissance building, which was constructed in the 19th century according to the plans of Josef Zítek and Josef Schulz. The Rudolfinum, which opened to the public in February 1885, serves as the seat of the Czech Philharmonic and has been a national cultural monument since 1989. Major concerts, including Prague Spring, are held in the Dvořák Hall, and the gallery hosts exhibitions of visual art.
The perpetrator is being prosecuted for the criminal offence of damaging another's property, for which he faces up to three years' imprisonment if convicted.
Source: Aktuálně.cz