News / International
Man nabbed for defacing a portrait of Queen Elizabeth
13 Jun 2013 at 18:47hrs | Views
LONDON - British Police said they had arrested a man after a portrait of Queen Elizabeth was defaced with paint at Westminster Abbey today.
The painting, by Australian-born London-based artist Ralph Heimans, had been part of a display marking the 60 years since the queen's coronation in 1953. "In an incident at lunchtime today, a visitor to the Abbey sprayed paint on the Ralph Heimans portrait of the queen presently on display in the Chapter House," an Abbey spokesman said.
"Until work can be done to remedy the damage, it will, very regrettably, not be possible to have the painting on public view."
London's Metropolitan Police said guards had detained a suspect at the scene. Officers held the 41-year-old on suspicion of criminal damage and he has been taken to a London police station for questioning.
No details about the motive for the attack have emerged but the incident was not being linked to a weeklong series of protests against a meeting of G8 leaders which Britain is hosting in Northern Ireland next week.
Last week, the queen and senior members of the royal family attended a service of celebration at the Abbey to mark the diamond anniversary of her coronation.
The painting, by Australian-born London-based artist Ralph Heimans, had been part of a display marking the 60 years since the queen's coronation in 1953. "In an incident at lunchtime today, a visitor to the Abbey sprayed paint on the Ralph Heimans portrait of the queen presently on display in the Chapter House," an Abbey spokesman said.
"Until work can be done to remedy the damage, it will, very regrettably, not be possible to have the painting on public view."
No details about the motive for the attack have emerged but the incident was not being linked to a weeklong series of protests against a meeting of G8 leaders which Britain is hosting in Northern Ireland next week.
Last week, the queen and senior members of the royal family attended a service of celebration at the Abbey to mark the diamond anniversary of her coronation.
Source - THT
