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Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC shut after vandalism Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC reopens after vandalism
(about 9 hours later)
Washington DC's Lincoln Memorial has been closed to visitors while workers clean up an act of vandalism, the US Park Police have said. Washington DC's Lincoln Memorial has reopened to visitors after workers cleaned up green paint that vandals splattered across the monument.
A vandal splattered green paint on the seated statue of the 16th US president and on the floor, police said. Paint was found all over the seated statue of the 16th US president and on the floor early on Friday morning.
The monument, one of the US capital's most prominent, could reopen on Friday. The monument is one of the most prominent in the US capital.
Lincoln, president from 1861 until his assassination in 1865, led the northern states to victory against the South in the American Civil War.Lincoln, president from 1861 until his assassination in 1865, led the northern states to victory against the South in the American Civil War.
In addition to the statue, the heavily trafficked monument features inscriptions of two of Lincoln's most famous speeches. In addition to the statue, the monument features inscriptions of two of Lincoln's most famous speeches.
The Park Police said they had not identified any suspects and were still investigating the matter. US Park Police said they were reviewing security camera footage to try to identify possible suspects.
"We're really disappointed that this national icon was damaged," Carol Johnson of the National Park Service told reporters. The memorial chamber was closed all day to allow a National Park Service crew to finish cleaning up the paint.
"From a personal level, it breaks my heart that somebody would do this." Workers spent hours using pressurised hoses and a chemical paint remover to wash away the paint.
But she said the paint splatter had not caused permanent damage to the monument. "It is not permanent damage," Carol Johnson of the National Park Service told reporters.
"We have very good historic preservation crews right up there now," Ms Johnson said. "It will be back in the shape that it was in." "Our historic preservation crew knows exactly what they need to do."
The monument, situated on the National Mall near the US Capitol building and the White House, is in the open air. Constructed without doors, it is normally accessible 24 hours a day and is unguarded overnight. The monument, situated on the National Mall near the US Capitol building and the White House, is in the open air.
Police are reviewing surveillance footage. The vandalism was discovered about 01:30 local time (05:30 GMT) on Friday. Constructed without doors, it is normally accessible 24 hours a day and is unguarded overnight.
The cleaning is expected to be completed by Friday morning, the authorities said.