Cnn
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A man was placed in police custody on Saturday after having broken the armrest of an old Vietnamese throne recognized as a “national treasure”, reported the Vietnamese state media.
The throne dates back to the Nguyen dynasty, the last royal dynasty of Vietnam, which lasted from 1802 to 1945.
The Nguyen dynasty established the City of HueIn the center of the country, as the capital of Vietnam when it was in power, according to UNESCO. The city’s monuments, which include several royal palaces, ritual sites and tombs, have been declared UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The throne that was broken on Saturday was located inside the Thái Hòa de Hue palace, the “most important structure” in the city, where the emperors have held court and royal ceremonies, according to Vietnam News.
Shortly after 12 noon, Saturday (1 hour he), a man showing “signs of severe poisoning” entered a restricted area roped from the palace and climbed on the throne, Vietnam News reported. He then “shouted inconsistently” and broke the left armrest of the ceremonial chair, said the website of State News.
A photograph published by Nhân Dân, the official newspaper of the Communist Party leader of Vietnam, shows part of the armrest which presented the head of a dragon lying on the ground. Two other fragments of the armrest are next.
The man who broke the throne was sent for a psychiatric assessment, Vietnam News reported, because of his “unstable mental state” which included “delusions and an inconsistent discourse”.
The security measures are tightened throughout the monument complex, “by emphasizing the protection of artifacts and national treasures,” added the state website.
