An American man intentionally damaged a valuable statue in a Jerusalem museum./Courtesy Israel Police Spokesperson’s Unit
2023.10.07 Sat posted at 14:20 JST
(CNN) Israeli police announced on the 6th that they have arrested a 40-year-old American man on suspicion of “deliberately damaging” a valuable statue at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
A report was received from museum security. The names of those arrested have not been released.
Two ancient Roman statues dating back to the 2nd century AD were damaged, local newspaper The Jerusalem Post reported.
Late on the afternoon of the 5th, Jerusalem police received a report from a security guard that a visitor had deliberately vandalized the statue, according to a statement from Israeli police to CNN.
The American suspect was taken to a police station in Jerusalem for questioning. A police statement said an initial investigation revealed that the attack was motivated by the belief that the statues were “idolatry” and contrary to the Torah.
The suspect’s lawyer denies that the crime was motivated by fundamentalist beliefs.
However, his lawyer denied that the crime was motivated by fundamentalist beliefs and pointed out that the suspect suffered from mental illness.
The suspect appeared in court on the 6th. A magistrate decided to extend his detention until the 9th while the police investigation continues.
“The suspect did not act out of iconoclastic fanaticism,” his lawyer said in a statement to CNN. “The suspect’s actions prior to the incident and his overall demeanor suggest a well-known disease known as ‘Jerusalem Syndrome.’ “This suggests that he is suffering from this.”
Jerusalem syndrome is a rare disorder in which tourists become so overwhelmed by the history and power of Jerusalem that they become disconnected from reality and believe they are biblical figures.
The incident occurred during the week-long festival of Sukkot. Israeli police arrested five people a few days ago for allegedly spitting near Christians and churches in Jerusalem’s Old City.
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2023-10-07 05:20:00
