An attack on Cusco's emblematic Stone of the Twelve Angles led to the arrest of a suspect and the initiation of an investigation into the vandalism of the cultural site. The incident occurred in the early hours of February 18, when a visibly intoxicated man struck the historic stone with a metallic object, causing irreversible damage.
The Stone of the Twelve Angles is one of the most representative icons of Inca architecture, known for the perfect interlocking of its stones without the use of cement or mortar. The six-ton stone is part of the wall of the former palace of Inca Roca (1350-1380) and is now incorporated into the Episcopal Palace of Cusco. The site is a key tourist attraction in Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire, which is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Gabriel Mariano Roysi Malanio was at the Fiscal Police station, where he already underwent identity verification procedures, according to RPP Noticias. The National Police of Peru intervened after the attack and identified Roysi Malanio as the individual responsible. A preliminary investigation was opened against him for aggravated damage.
Security cameras captured the attack, showing a man with long hair and a backpack arriving unsteadily at Hatunrumiyoc Street around 2:00 a.m. The footage revealed him hitting the Stone of the Twelve Angles up to six times with a metallic object, apparently a hammer, before fleeing the scene. The police are analyzing these images as part of their investigation.
"The attack on the Stone of the Twelve Angles is a matter of deep sorrow," said Jorge Moya, director of Culture Cusco, according to La República. "This is irreversible damage, and we have filed a complaint with the National Police."
"It's not the first time that this type of situation has occurred. Therefore, our historic center must be properly protected... For this reason, we are going to take the recommendations and talk to our mayor," he stated, as reported by RPP Noticias.
According to Gestión, the Peruvian Penal Code classifies attacks on cultural heritage as a crime, with penalties that could reach up to six years of effective imprisonment.
The provincial deputy prosecutor, Jherson Zegarra Vargas, ordered actions including taking statements from the detainee and witnesses, reviewing surveillance images, and conducting a technical evaluation by the Decentralized Directorate of Culture of Cusco, as reported by La República.
According to Panamericana TV, testimonies from neighbors indicate that the man is known in the area, which would facilitate his identification and capture in the coming hours. The information may aid in corroborating the suspect's identity and establishing a motive.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq