A suspect has been taken into custody after the Washington Monument was vandalized with a splash of red paint and a lewd message on Tuesday night.
The United States Park Police in Washington DC confirmed they had detained a male individual suspected of the vandalism.
Photos from the National Mall showed a large splatter of red paint on the base of the monument, next to it a message that appeared to read ‘Have u been f***ed by this’ and below that a line saying ‘Gov says tough sh*t.’
The area around the base of the monument was closed as Park Police investigated the incident. It is unclear if the monument will re-open tomorrow at its usual opening hour of 10am.
The monument will be restored by National Park Service conservators, according to outlets. The Washington Monument was opened to the public in 1888 and built as a monument to the United States’ first president, George Washington.
The monument rises 555 feet into the air, and stands at the apex of the National Mall. (DailyMail)