Vandals scrawl graffiti on Rio's Christ

Rio de Janeiro's iconic Christ the Redeemer monument has been vandalised in an act described by the city's mayor as a "crime against the nation". It is the first time the 130ft statue, which towers over the Brazilian city, has been defiled since its inauguration in 1931.

Mudslides triggered by recent heavy rain have damaged roads around the site, preventing tourists from reaching the landmark. But daring graffiti vandals managed to scale the scaffolding in place around the monument, which was put up for maintenance work.



In black spray-paint louts scrawled phrases on the statue such as, "When the cat's away, the rats will play". The vandals also made apparent references to Rio residents who were killed or who had disappeared in recent crimes.

Mayor Eduardo Paes said: "Those criminals will pay for what they've done. They will go to jail. Rio de Janeiro and Brazil do not deserve this." The company renovating the monument has since removed the graffiti.