<p>The Lincoln Memorial, an iconic landmark in the US capital, was vandalised today, forcing authorities to shut down the popular tourist attraction until it was cleaned up.<br /><br />The Lincoln Memorial was vandalised and will remain closed until it is cleaned up, US Park Police Capt. Steven Booker said.<br /><br />Police were alerted to the scene just before 1:30 a.m. and found green paint splattered on the leg and base of the statue of America's 16th president, he said. There were no discernible letters or markings.<br /><br />Park Police will review the security camera video for evidence, Booker said.<br /><br />Abraham Lincoln, president from 1861 until his assassination in 1865, led the northern states to victory against the South in the American Civil War.<br /><br />Police said no words or symbols had been painted or written on the memorial, only splatters of green paint.<br /><br />The neo-classical memorial to Lincoln who emancipated the slaves was designed by Henry Bacon and modelled after an ancient Greek temple. The 19-foot tall statue depicts Lincoln sitting in a throne-like chair.<br /><br />Inscribed in the walls around the statue are excerpts of the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln's second inaugural address.<br /><br />The memorial, which opened to the public in 1922 and draws millions of visitors each year, has been the site of major moments in US history.</p>.<p><br />The monument, situated on the National Mall near the US Capitol building and the White House, is in the open air and is normally accessible 24 hours a day.<br /><br />The cleaning is expected to be completed later today, the authorities said.</p>
<p>The Lincoln Memorial, an iconic landmark in the US capital, was vandalised today, forcing authorities to shut down the popular tourist attraction until it was cleaned up.<br /><br />The Lincoln Memorial was vandalised and will remain closed until it is cleaned up, US Park Police Capt. Steven Booker said.<br /><br />Police were alerted to the scene just before 1:30 a.m. and found green paint splattered on the leg and base of the statue of America's 16th president, he said. There were no discernible letters or markings.<br /><br />Park Police will review the security camera video for evidence, Booker said.<br /><br />Abraham Lincoln, president from 1861 until his assassination in 1865, led the northern states to victory against the South in the American Civil War.<br /><br />Police said no words or symbols had been painted or written on the memorial, only splatters of green paint.<br /><br />The neo-classical memorial to Lincoln who emancipated the slaves was designed by Henry Bacon and modelled after an ancient Greek temple. The 19-foot tall statue depicts Lincoln sitting in a throne-like chair.<br /><br />Inscribed in the walls around the statue are excerpts of the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln's second inaugural address.<br /><br />The memorial, which opened to the public in 1922 and draws millions of visitors each year, has been the site of major moments in US history.</p>.<p><br />The monument, situated on the National Mall near the US Capitol building and the White House, is in the open air and is normally accessible 24 hours a day.<br /><br />The cleaning is expected to be completed later today, the authorities said.</p>