AN IRISH tourist has been charged by the Italian police after he was caught carving his initials into the ancient Colosseum.
The tourist, understood to be a 32-year-old man, was caught by security using a sharp object to carve his initials into the almost 2,000-year-old stone, according to reports from Italian media.
La Repubblica reports that security staff of the Colosseum Archaeological Park caught the tourist scratching his name into the stone on a pillar on the first level of the Flavian Amphitheater.
The 23-year-old Irish tourist was spotted by security using a pointed object to carve his initials into the ancient stone. Italian police were called to the scene and charged him with aggravated damage to assets of historical and cultural importance.[Picture: Wikipedia Commons]Local outlet Wanted in Rome say it is the second incident in several days involving tourists damaging the ancient structure.
Last week, a Polish tourist was flying a drone near the Colosseum when it crashed into the stone-- despite having been given a warning that the ancient building is a no-fly zone.
There is no further information on the charges against the tourist or his identity.
