British Tourists Allegedly Destroy Stolen Golden Jesus Statue in Lithuania

Police in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, are investigating an incident in which two men believed to be British citizens allegedly took a gilded sculpture of Jesus from a centuries-old church and destroyed it on the street, according to local authorities and reported footage.

According to a police statement, the incident took place on November 11 at around 9 p.m. on Dominikonų Street, where an unidentified person entered the inner courtyard of a church and broke a golden sculpture of Jesus hanging on a wooden cross. Authorities said the extent of the damage is still being assessed.

Surveillance footage circulated in media reports appears to show one man carrying the gilded figure while a second man sits on a nearby bench recording the scene on his phone. In the video, the statue's arms reportedly snap off before the head, torso and remaining pieces fall to the ground and shatter.

The sculpture was reportedly taken from a church associated with the Shrine of Divine Mercy, a site known for a famous 1934 painting of the Divine Mercy. The footage is said to have been captured by a camera outside a nearby shop, with the two men leaving the area afterward.

Police have not officially confirmed the nationalities of the two individuals, though investigators believe they are citizens of the United Kingdom. No further details about charges or the status of the investigation were immediately available.

The case has drawn attention because of the historical and religious significance of the site. Local authorities have asked the public to come forward with any information that could assist the inquiry.