Man charged after kilt-wearing attacker smashes case holding Scotland's Stone of Destiny
LONDON — A man from Australia has been charged with 'malicious mischief' for allegedly smashing a glass case holding the Stone of Destiny, an ancient symbol of Scottish nationhood.
Arnaud Harixcalde Logan, 35, appeared at Perth Sheriff Court on Monday to face the charge, which is similar to vandalism.
Logan, whose address was given as Sydney, wasn't asked to enter a plea and was ordered detained until a hearing next week.
Police said that they were called to a 'disturbance' at Perth Museum in central Scotland on Saturday, after reports of a kilt-wearing man attempting to smash the case containing the royal rock.
The 335-pound (150-kilogram) sandstone block is also known as the Stone of Scone (Skoon) — and was used in the crowning ceremonies of medieval Scottish monarchs at Scone Abbey, near Perth. It was stolen by England's King Edward I in the 13th century and taken to Westminster Abbey in London, where it was installed under the seat of the coronation chair.
It has been used in coronations at the abbey ever since — first of English and then of British monarchs The English and Scottish crowns were united under one monarch in the 17th century.
The stone's presence in London long irked Scottish nationalists. In 1950, it was stolen from Westminster Abbey by four Glasgow university students, but was returned in time for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
It was given back to Scotland in 1996, 700 years after its seizure, and displayed in Edinburgh Castle, with the understanding that it would return to England for use in future coronations. Sensitivities around the stone meant that it had to be moved to London in secrecy and amid tight security for the coronation of King Charles III in 2023.
Last year it was put on display at the newly renovated Perth Museum where, according to the building's website, there are 'a range of 24/7 security measures in place at the Museum to protect this precious object.'
Culture Perth and Kinross, which oversees the museum, said the stone wasn't damaged in the incident.
Jill Lawless, The Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
21 hours ago
- National Post
Letters: Law and disorder in Hockey Canada verdicts, Freedom Convoy sentencing
Re: Gasps in court as all five players acquitted in Hockey Canada sexual assault trial — Jane Sims, July 24 Article content While Superior Justice Maria Carroccia ruled that the behaviour of the five Hockey Canada players didn't constitute sexual assault, it's very clear that what happened in that hotel room in London, Ont., in 2018 was unsavoury and unbefitting of role models. Hockey Canada needs to do a lot more to promote appropriate behaviour off the ice. In the meantime, may this legal saga be a cautionary tale to all young male hockey players — and their admirers. No one, not the players, the complainant or Hockey Canada, comes out looking good. Article content Article content Article content It's unbelievable that the government of Canada would attempt to make an example of Tamara Lich and Chris Barber by calling for seven- and eight-year sentences respectively for helping organize a peaceful convoy protest. Article content Canadian justice would be better served by the government fixing the revolving door of criminal offenders getting bail instantly, frequently, and being sentenced lightly. Article content The heavy-handed prosecution of Lich and Barber is obviously meant to chill any future protest of government policy that citizens disagree with. This stands in direct contrast with a government that proudly proclaims the right to peaceful protest, such as when anti-Israel groups disrupt traffic, intimidate Christmas shoppers in a mall, or menacingly appear in a Jewish neighbourhood. Article content Article content Article content Tamara Lich and Chris Barber and other honest, hard-working Canadians gave up their time and their work and drove thousands of miles, at their own expense, to reach out to their government, in a peaceful manner, to try to fix a problem that was preventing them from bringing needed products to Canadians. Article content They camped outside the Parliament buildings for one purpose only: to be heard, to exercise their Canadian right to reach out to their government for help, and they brought their children to witness democracy in action. Article content Except, they weren't heard. The prime minister dismissed them cavalierly and refused to listen to their concerns, or send anyone else to listen and address them. Had he done so, the protest would have been over, and everyone could have gone home, happy to have had their concerns addressed. It only droned on for three weeks because the government continued in its refusal to give them a hearing. Article content If anybody is to be sentenced for mischief, it should be our former PM, Justin Trudeau.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Vandals set fire to a mouse statue that's a TV star and mascot for a German broadcaster
A mouse statue that has been set on fire stands in front of the WDR (West German Broadcasting Corporation) building in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, July 26, 2025. (Sascha Thelen/dpa via AP) BERLIN — Vandals set fire to a mouse statue that's a TV star and mascot for children's programming at German broadcaster WDR, the television station said Saturday. The cartoon mouse, known only as 'Die Maus,' is the eponymous star of 'Die Sendung mit der Maus' (The Show with the Mouse) since it first aired in West Germany in 1971. Each short episode features other languages and educational segments. The statue - featuring the character's famous orange body with brown ears, arms and legs - greets families and children outside a media building in Cologne, Germany. A receptionist for WDR saw several young people standing around the statue in Cologne on a camera feed overnight Friday into Saturday. She then noticed flames and called the fire department, WDR said. The fire blackened parts of the mouse's face and arm, images show. The station said a police complaint had been filed against an unidentified person. Matthias Kornich, head of children's programming for WDR, said it's not just a figurine that was damaged. 'A piece of childhood, a symbol of joy and togetherness has been attacked,' he said. 'The mouse belongs to Cologne.' The mouse statue isn't the first German TV character to be attacked. In 2009, the statue of a depressed German loaf of bread named Bernd das Brot (Bernd the Bread) was stolen from his traditional place outside the town hall in Erfurt, where German children's public television channel KiKA is based. Bernd, a cult classic in Germany, was held hostage for nearly two weeks before being discovered unharmed in an abandoned barracks. By Stefanie Dazio.
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Fire crews rescue pedestrian lodged under vehicle they were hit by
London Fire crews rescued a trapped person under a vehicle in the 100 block of Hamilton Road July 26, 2025. (Source: London Fire Department/X) London Fire crews responded to reports of an unconscious person in the 100 block of Hamilton Road Friday. When first responders arrived, the call was quickly upgraded to a full extrication response. A pedestrian had apparently been struck by a vehicle and was trapped underneath. Upon arrival, crews confirmed one person was pinned underneath the vehicle. Crews were able to successfully extricate the person, and they were transported a hospital by EMS with unknown injuries. London police are investigating the incident.
