Latest news with #HueMonumentsConservationCentre
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Moment tourist jumps into ancient world heritage site smashing priceless statues
A holidaymaker was filmed after throwing himself into a pit holding the ancient Terracotta Army in China sparking outrage as he damaged two clay statues before being detained Shocking footage has captured the moment a tourist jumped over railings at the world famous Terracotta Army display and damaged two of the ancient statues causing outrage. The man, who has been identified only by his surname Sun, leapt into the 18ft deep pit which houses the clay statues in Xi'an, China, on May 30. The 30-year-old then was seen pushing the statues before being detained by museum security. The Chinese authorities reportedly said Sun suffers from a mental illness and an investigation will be carried out into the event which left fellow visitors to the iconic site in shock. Footage on social media showed him lying on the ground in the pit and then rolling about in apparent pain while other visitors in the background looked on in horror at the damage he had caused. A statement from public security officials said Sun "climbed over the guardrail and the protective net and jumped". He then "pushed and pulled" the clay warriors and two were "damaged to varying degrees". Local officials are now assessing the damage caused. Despite the incident, the exhibit remains open to the public as normal this week but an investigation is underway into how the man was able to cause the damage. The Terracotta Army, which became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987, is considered one of China's greatest archaeological treasures. It consists of over 8,000 life-sized soldiers created 2,000 years ago in an elaborate city-sized compound to guard the tomb of Qin Shi Huang - China's first emperor. The city was built to provide Qin with everything he would need for the afterlife following his death at the age of 49 in 210 BC. When the site was found, the terracotta soldiers were emblazoned with bright and bold colours, but due to the sudden change in atmosphere when the city was reopened, their colours faded. This latest incident comes after a man was detained for causing damage to an ancient throne in Vietnam last month. The suspect, named as 42-year-old Ho Van Phuong Tam, broke into the Nguyen dynasty throne exhibit on May 25. A statement from the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre (HMCC) said Tam "snuck into the Nguyen dynasty display area, screamed and then broke the front left armrest". Local media claims he bought a ticket to the exhibit before climbing into the roped-off area. Footage shows him sitting cross-legged on the ancient throne, reported the Express. Tam was quickly arrested by the HMCC said he showed "signs of psychosis, screaming, and talking nonsense". He reportedly could "not answer the investigator's questions."
Daily Tribune
26-05-2025
- Daily Tribune
Vietnam police detain man over damage to ancient throne
Vietnam Vietnamese police have detained a man who broke into a history exhibit and damaged an antique throne considered to be one of the nation's most precious artefacts, conservation officials said yesterday. The ornate red-and-gold Nguyen dynasty throne was the royal seat of the last feudal family to rule Vietnam between 1802 and 1945 and has been preserved for posterity in Hue city's Thai Hoa Palace. A 42-year-old man 'snuck into the Nguyen dynasty display area, screamed and then broke the front left armrest' around midday on Saturday, a statement from the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre (HMCC) said. In footage circulating on social media and Vietnam news sites purporting to show the incident, the man can be seen sitting cross-legged on the two-century-old throne that is adorned with dragon motifs. He was quickly arrested but showed 'signs of psychosis, screaming, talking nonsense and could not answer the investigator's questions', the HMCC said. Police detained him to conduct a psychiatric assessment, it said, while the throne will be removed for repair and preservation efforts. 'This is an extremely rare incident,' the HMCC statement said. Vietnam's ministry of culture, sports and tourism has asked for an urgent report on the incident. The central city of Hue was established as the capital of unified Vietnam under the Nguyen dynasty. It was recognised as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1993 and hosts several ancient palaces, tombs and artefacts.
The Independent
26-05-2025
- The Independent
Vietnam arrests man for breaking one of its most prized treasures in palace museum display
Vietnamese police have detained a man who damaged an imperial throne that is regarded as one of the Southeast Asian country's most treasured artefacts, conservation authorities said on Sunday. Police say the 42-year-old man damaged the throne, recognised as a national treasure, after trespassing into a restricted area inside the Thai Hoa Palace in central Vietnam. Ho Van Phuong Tam, from Hue, climbed onto the throne and reportedly broke a part of it before being subdued by security, authorities said. The ornate red-and-gold throne of the Nguyen dynasty, the last imperial dynasty of Vietnam that ruled for some 140 years until 1945, is preserved in the Thai Hoa Palace in Hue. Mr Tam purchased an entrance ticket to the palace and reportedly made his way to a restricted area. He then allegedly climbed onto the imperial throne standing at the centre of the palace. Since there were only a few visitors present, the incident went unnoticed for a brief period before security staff intervened. A visitor captured the incident on video and shared it online, triggering widespread public outrage. Hue city police launched an investigation and subsequently detained Mr Tam. In the wake of this 'extremely rare and unprecedented' incident, the People's Committee of Hue City announced that the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre had shifted the throne to a secure storage facility at the Royal Antiquities Museum and installed a replica in the Thai Hoa Palace for public viewing. Mr Tam 'snuck into the Nguyen dynasty display area, screamed and then broke the front left armrest' around midday on Saturday, a statement from the centre said, according to AFP. It said that Mr Tam showed 'signs of psychosis, screaming, talking nonsense and could not answer the investigator's questions'. The centre was enlisting experts and artisans to evaluate the extent of the damage and recommend a suitable restoration plan, according to Asia News Network. Security at the heritage site would be enhanced, with a renewed focus on safeguarding artefacts and national treasures, it added. Authorities have been unable to formally question Mr Tam due to his unstable mental state. A psychiatric assessment has been ordered and police have been working with local prosecutors, local media reported. Mr Tam moved to Ho Chi Minh City with his family in the 1990s and returned to Hue earlier this month. He was, however, forced to leave the home of his relatives where he had been staying since his return and took to living on the streets. Previously, in July 2023, he had been ordered to undergo compulsory drug rehabilitation.
Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Straits Times
Vietnam police detain man over damage to ancient throne
A man is seen sitting on the throne in footage circulating on social media and Vietnam news sites purportedly showing the incident. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM FACEBOOK VIDEO HANOI - Vietnamese police have detained a man who broke into a history exhibit and damaged an antique throne considered to be one of the nation's most precious artefacts, conservation officials said on May 25 . The ornate red-and-gold Nguyen dynasty throne was the royal seat of the last feudal family to rule Vietnam between 1802 and 1945 and has been preserved for posterity in Hue city's Thai Hoa Palace. A 42-year-old man 'snuck into the Nguyen dynasty display area, screamed and then broke the front left armrest' around midday on May 24 , a statement from the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre (HMCC) said. In footage circulating on social media and Vietnam news sites purporting to show the incident, the man can be seen sitting cross-legged on the two-century-old throne that is adorned with dragon motifs. He was quickly arrested but showed 'signs of psychosis, screaming, talking nonsense and could not answer the investigator's questions', the HMCC said. Police detained him to conduct a psychiatric assessment, it said, while the throne will be removed for repair and preservation efforts. 'This is an extremely rare incident,' the HMCC statement said. Vietnam's ministry of culture, sports and tourism has asked for an urgent report on the incident. The central city of Hue was established as the capital of unified Vietnam under the Nguyen dynasty. It was recognised as a world heritage site by Unesco in 1993 and hosts several ancient palaces, tombs and artefacts. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Time of India
Vietnam police detain man over damage to ancient throne
Representative Image (AI-generated) Vietnamese police have detained a man who broke into a history exhibit and damaged an antique throne considered to be one of the nation's most precious artefacts, conservation officials said on Sunday. The ornate red-and-gold Nguyen dynasty throne was the royal seat of the last feudal family to rule Vietnam between 1802 and 1945 and has been preserved for posterity in Hue city's Thai Hoa Palace. A 42-year-old man "snuck into the Nguyen dynasty display area, screamed and then broke the front left armrest" around midday on Saturday, a statement from the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre (HMCC) said. In footage circulating on social media and Vietnam news sites purporting to show the incident, the man can be seen sitting cross-legged on the two-century-old throne that is adorned with dragon motifs. He was quickly arrested but showed "signs of psychosis, screaming, talking nonsense and could not answer the investigator's questions", the HMCC said. Police detained him to conduct a psychiatric assessment, it said, while the throne will be removed for repair and preservation efforts. "This is an extremely rare incident," the HMCC statement said. Vietnam's ministry of culture, sports and tourism has asked for an urgent report on the incident. The central city of Hue was established as the capital of unified Vietnam under the Nguyen dynasty. It was recognised as a world heritage site by Unesco in 1993 and hosts several ancient palaces, tombs and artefacts.
