Vietnamese police have detained a man after he attacked the ancient throne of the Nguyen Dynasty.
According to CNN, Vietnamese state media reported that a shirtless man broke the armrest off the throne belonging to the last royal dynasty of the country, which has been recognised as a "national treasure.”
The Nguyen Dynasty lasted from 1802 to 1945, and the ancient throne was used by the emperors for court and royal ceremonies.
Vietnam News reported that a man showing “signs of severe intoxication” on Saturday, shortly after 12pm, entered into the restricted area of the palace and climbed up onto the throne. He “shouted incoherently” and broke the left armrest of the ceremonial chair.
In a picture shared by Nhân Dân, the official newspaper of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam, a part of the armrest featuring a head of a dragon could be seen lying on the floor while two other fragments of the armrest were lying beside it.
Following the arrest the police sent for a psychiatric assessment due to his “unstable mental state” which included “delusions and incoherent speech.”
The security across the entire complex of monuments has been tightened after the incident “with an emphasis on the protection of artefacts and national treasures.”
The Nguyen Dynasty’s throne is located inside Hue’s Thái Hòa Palace, the city’s “most important structure,” which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
