Edinburgh Castle display smashed up by climate protesters with Stone of Destiny case damaged
Edinburgh Castle display smashed up by climate protesters with Stone of Destiny case damaged
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Edinburgh Castle has closed multiple rooms to the public after a display case holding the Stone of Destiny was smashed by protesters.
Demonstrators from This is Rigged, said the protest was to “demand action on the cost of living crisis”.
A manager for the castle said anyone who had already purchased tickets would be allowed to remain in the building but that new visitors would not be admitted.
Housed in the Crown Room, which also contains the Honours of Scotland, This is Rigged protesters smashed the glass case surrounding the block of red sandstone that has been used since the 13th century during the coronation of the monarchs of England, Great Britain and the United Kingdom.
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Police Scotland said officers were called to the Scottish capital’s landmark at approximately 10.45am on Wednesday to reports of a ‘small protest’ within the castle.
Eyewitnesses said police cars quickly arrived at the tourist attraction and cordoned off large areas to the public.
One 20-year-old man and two women, aged 20 and 24, have been arrested in connection with the damage caused.
“Around 10.45am on Wednesday, 15 November, we were called to a report of a small protest within Edinburgh Castle,” a Police Scotland spokesperson said.
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The display case surrounding the Stone of Destiny was smashed by the This is Rigged campaign group
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The Stone of Destiny was returned to Scotland in 1996
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“Officers attended and two women aged 20 and 24 years, and a 20-year-old man were arrested in connection with damage caused.
“Enquiries are ongoing.”
A spokesperson for Historic Environment Scotland (HES) added: “We can confirm that there was a small disturbance in the Crown Room at Edinburgh Castle earlier today and Police were called to the scene.
“There has been some damage to the protective glass housing the Honours, however the casing was not breached and the Honours themselves were not damaged.
The Stone of Scone - the Scottish Stone of Destiny - missing from Westminster Abbey since Christmas Day, 1950 - being removed from Abroath Abbey, Forfarshire, Scotland after being handed to the Custodian of the Abbey James Wiseheart by Scottish Nationalists.
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“The Castle remains open, however we have temporarily closed the Crown Room and Royal Apartments.”
This is not the first time the Stone of Destiny has suffered an attack at the hands of protesters, as it was damaged in a Suffragette bombing campaign back in 1914.
The bombing broke the stone in two pieces, but wasn’t discovered until Christmas Day 1950 - some 36 years later - when four Scottish nationalist students stole the object from Westminster and attempted to return it to Scotland.
The students buried part in a field in Kent and took the other half to the altar of Arbroath Abbey.
The Stone was found by Met police four months later and returned to Westminster.