Man arrested for damaging imperial throne in Vietnam palace museum
Vietnamese police have arrested a man for damaging an imperial throne regarded as an important artifact in a palace museum.
Ho Van Phuong Tam, a 42-year-old man from Hue, reportedly purchased an entrance ticket before he snuck into a restricted area at the Thai Hoa Palace.
He then climbed onto the throne, "exhibited signs of severe intoxication," and went unnoticed for a short period, as per Vietnam News.
The outlet reported that the man began to shout incoherently and broke the left armrest of the historical artifact before he was subdued by security. Videos of the incident made the rounds online.
The Hue Monuments Conservation Center (HMCC) said in a statement that the man showed "signs of psychosis, screaming, talking nonsense, and could not answer the investigator's questions."
He was detained by police for psychiatric assessment.
"This is an extremely rare incident," the HMCC said.
The ornate red-and-gold throne was the royal seat of the last royal dynasty of Vietnam, the Nguyen Dynasty, which lasted from 1802 to 1945. It was recognized as a National Treasure of Vietnam in 2015 and is preserved at the palace, according to Vietnam News. The central city of Hue's royal palaces, tombs, and ritual sites are recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO.
The ceremonial chair was removed for repair and preservation efforts, and a replica has been placed on display at Thai Hoa Palace.
Security measures are also set to be strengthened to further protect artifacts and national treasures.
