An American was arrested in Israel on charges of destroying Roman statues in the museum

CNN
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An American man has been arrested in Israel on suspicion of “intentional counterfeiting” of valuables Sculptures At the Israel Museum in JerusalemThe Israeli police confirmed.

The 40-year-old man, whose name was not given, was arrested after police were called to reports from security personnel at the Cultural Foundation in Jerusalem.

According to the Jerusalem PostTwo ancient Roman sculptures dating back to the 2nd century AD were damaged.

The Israeli police said in a statement sent to CNN: “Yesterday evening (Thursday), the Jerusalem District Police received a report from security personnel at the Israel Museum about a visitor deliberately destroying sculptures of great financial value displayed in the museum, causing serious damage.”

Police said the suspect, an American citizen, was detained for questioning at Moria station in the Israeli capital.

The police statement continued: “During the initial investigation, it became clear that the suspect committed this act because he considered these sculptures to be “pagan” and in violation of the Torah.”

But the man’s lawyer denied that his action was based on fundamentalist religious beliefs, saying instead that he suffered from a mental illness.

The suspect appeared in court on Friday, where judges ruled His detention was extended until Monday while police investigations continue.

The man’s lawyer, Nick Kaufman, asked that his client’s name not be revealed. The judge rejected this request, but postponed the decision on his name until Sunday morning.

In an email sent to CNN, Coffman said: “The suspect did not act out of rebellious fanaticism. His actions prior to the accident and his general behavior indicate that he suffers from a well-recognized condition known as Jerusalem Syndrome.

“With his consent and that of the police, he has been referred for psychological evaluation with the expectation that he will be released from pre-trial detention on Monday.”

Jerusalem Syndrome is a rare condition in which tourists become so immersed in the city’s history and power that they become disconnected from reality and believe they are biblical figures.

The incident comes during the week-long Sukkot holiday and just days after Israeli police arrested five people on suspicion of spitting near Christians or churches in the Old City of Jerusalem.