Man charged after kilt-wearing attacker smashes case holding Scotland's Stone of Destiny

LONDON (AP) — A antheral from Australia has been charged with “malicious mischief” for allegedly smashing a solid lawsuit holding the Stone of Destiny, an past awesome of Scottish nationhood.

Arnaud Harixcalde Logan, 35, appeared astatine Perth Sheriff Court connected Monday to look the charge, which is akin to vandalism.

Logan, whose code was fixed arsenic Sydney, wasn't asked to participate a plea and was ordered detained until a proceeding adjacent week.

Police said that they were called to a “disturbance” astatine Perth Museum successful cardinal Scotland connected Saturday, aft reports of a kilt-wearing antheral attempting to smash the lawsuit containing the royal rock.

The 335-pound (150-kilogram) sandstone artifact is besides known arsenic the Stone of Scone (Skoon) — and was utilized successful the crowning ceremonies of medieval Scottish monarchs astatine Scone Abbey, adjacent Perth. It was stolen by England’s King Edward I successful the 13th period and taken to Westminster Abbey successful London, wherever it was installed nether the spot of the coronation chair.

It has been utilized successful coronations astatine the abbey ever since — archetypal of English and past of British monarchs The English and Scottish crowns were agreed nether 1 monarch successful the 17th century.

The stone’s beingness successful London agelong irked Scottish nationalists. In 1950, it was stolen from Westminster Abbey by 4 Glasgow assemblage students, but was returned successful clip for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II successful 1953.

It was fixed backmost to Scotland successful 1996, 700 years aft its seizure, and displayed successful Edinburgh Castle, with the knowing that it would instrumentality to England for usage successful aboriginal coronations. Sensitivities astir the chromatic meant that it had to beryllium moved to London successful secrecy and amid choky information for the coronation of King Charles III successful 2023.

Last twelvemonth it was enactment connected show astatine the recently renovated Perth Museum where, according to the building's website, determination are “a scope of 24/7 information measures successful spot astatine the Museum to support this precious object.”

Culture Perth and Kinross, which oversees the museum, said the chromatic wasn't damaged successful the incident.