27 Jul 2013

Vandalism at Lincoln Memorial

7:46 am on 27 July 2013

Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC is closed to visitors while vandalism is cleaned-up at the site.

US Park Police said green paint was splattered on the seated statue of the 16th US president and on the floor.

Park Police said they had not identified any suspects and were still investigating. Surveillance footage is being reviewed.

"From a personal level, it breaks my heart that somebody would do this," said Carol Johnson of the National Park Service.

But she said the paint splatter had not caused permanent damage to the monument.

"We have very good historic preservation crews right up there now," Ms Johnson said. "It will be back in the shape that it was in."

The BBC reports the monument is in the open air. Constructed without doors, it is normally accessible 24 hours a day and is unguarded overnight.

The vandalism was discovered at about 1.30am on Friday.