An unidentified man has once again targeted the iconic Prospero and Ariel statue at the BBC’s headquarters in London, leaving the public in shock and reigniting the debate surrounding its existence.
The statue, crafted by Eric Gill in the 1930s, has faced intense criticism due to the sculptor’s disturbing personal history.
Gill’s diaries revealed he had sexually abused his own daughters, leading to widespread calls for the removal of the artwork.
This recent incident marks the second time the statue has been attacked, following a previous act of vandalism with a hammer last year. The damage caused then is still in the process of being repaired.
The Metropolitan Police received a distress call at 04:15 BST on Saturday, reporting a man who had climbed the scaffolding and was actively damaging the sculpture.
However, due to the precarious circumstances and the height involved, authorities were unable to safely detain the protester. Specialist officers have been summoned to handle the situation.
By 07:00, the man, wearing a Spiderman mask, was seen leaning against the scaffolding, passionately engaging in a heated exchange with a police officer.
A police cordon has been established, cordoning off sections of Regent Street and the front of New Broadcasting House.
This recent incident occurred while repairs were still underway from the previous act of vandalism.
The entrance to the BBC was temporarily closed on May 9 to facilitate the restoration work, initially scheduled for completion by June 19, as previously announced by the BBC.
Given the ongoing situation, the BBC press office refrained from commenting, recognizing the importance of allowing the police and emergency services to address the matter swiftly and effectively.
