An Irish man has been arrested in Brussels after causing significant damage to a sculpture outside the city’s old stock exchange building.
According to the Daily Dail, this particular artwork called “The Hand with the Torch” is one of two sculptures that line the entrance of the building.
The incident happened last Sunday, just a day after the neoclassical building “La Bourse” reopened after a 3-year renovation project that cost nearly 90 million euros. This work included the restoration of the statue in question, which cost EUR 17,500.
A young Irishman has been arrested in Brussels, Belgium, after he climbed on to a recently renovated statue outside the stock exchange on Sunday and caused part of it to fall off, according to local media. Report here: https://t.co/dyx9mL0EDO pic.twitter.com/nalE6cGMjc
— The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) September 13, 2023
The building now houses a visitor centre focusing on the history of the country’s brewing industry.
Video making the rounds online captures the young man, who appears drunk, climbing the sculpture which depicts a lion and a man with a torch next to him. As he tries to climb down, the tourist grabs a spot to steady himself, causing the torch and part of the male figure’s arm to detach.
According to the British newspaper’s report, police spotted the man at a nearby fast-food restaurant shortly afterward and arrested him.
Belgian media report that compensation of several thousand euros will be sought from the arrested man, who is reportedly an Irish tourist.
According to the manager of the renovation work on the building, the new restoration of the historic sculpture is expected to cost a lot of money because they have to turn to specialized craftsmen.
