Racist Fish: Little Mermaid statue vandalised in Copenhagen

Danish investigators perplexed at reason behind racist accusation.

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen was vandalised on 3 July with the words 'Racist Fish' sprayed on the base of the much-photographed monument in the Danish capital.

Police investigating the case are said to be puzzled over the apparent racist accusation and who exactly is the target of the message, according to media reports.

Literary experts also fail to see a connection between racism and the statue inspired by a character in the popular fairytale written by Danish poet and author Hans Christian Andersen in 1837.

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The bronze statue by sculptor Edvard Eriksen is located along the waterside at the Langelinie promenade and has been a major tourist attraction since it was unveiled in 1913.

Over the decades however the 175-kg monument has become a popular target for vandals, with its head stolen twice, in 1964 and 1998, and its right arm sawn off in 1984.

The statue has also had its fair share of political activism, with the message 'Free Hong Kong' sprayed on its base earlier this year.

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The latest incident comes as statues of historical figures in many countries around the world are the subject of controversy, with activists protesting against racism following the death of George Floyd, an African-American killed by a white police officer in Minneapolis on 25 May.