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Damage appraiser at the Golden Rider in Dresden
Photo: Robert Michael / dpa
Dresden has many sights, the Golden Rider is undoubtedly the most radiant.
The equestrian statue covered with gold leaf attracts a lot of attention at Neustädter Markt.
Now a man has apparently tried to sever a hoof from the monument.
As the police announced, the incident occurred on Sunday morning.
Officials summoned by witnesses later placed the suspect near the statue, it said.
The man is now being investigated for damage to property that is harmful to the community.
The amount of damage is unclear.
Nothing was disclosed about the man's motive.
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Golden Rider's Hoof: Attack with an angle grinder and hammer
Photo: Robert Michael / dpa
The equestrian statue of the Saxon Elector and Polish King August the Strong has stood on Neustädter Markt in Dresden since 1736.
The gold-leaf monument shows the ruler in Roman armor heading east towards his kingdom of Poland.
Dismantled in World War II
At the end of the Second World War, the Golden Rider was moved to a tunnel in Pillnitz before it was reassembled and restored in the 1950s.
The last time the shiny golden statue was repaired was between 2001 and 2003.
sol / AFP
