Israeli authorities arrested a US tourist on Thursday for destroying ancient Roman statues dating back to the 2nd century in a Jerusalem museum.
The 40-year-old tourist, who was arrested Thursday, considered the artifacts to be “blasphemous” and “in violation of the Torah,” The Times of Israel reports.
The management of the museum also disclosed that the two artifacts destroyed by the tourist were kept in the archaeology wing.
Images from the scene showed scattered pieces of one of the sculptures on the floor, with the other bearing a severed head.
The head of the Isreal Antiquities Authority, Eli Escusido, in his statement, said, “One statue is a marble depiction of the goddess Athena that was found in excavations at Beit She’an in the 1960s.
ALSO READ: US House Speaker, McCarthy toppled in right-wing revolt
“The second was of the mythological creature Griffin, who was the symbol of divinity in the Roman pagan era and found in the Negev.
“This is a shocking case of destruction of cultural heritage. We view with great concern the fact that religious extremists take such action.”
The museum, in their statement, said, “This is an unusual incident.
“We condemn all forms of violence and hope such events do not happen again.”
Investigation into the case has since begun.