Man Tried To Steal Magna Carta, 800-Year-Old Symbol Of The Law, Police Say

Enlarge this image toggle caption Kieran Doherty/Reuters Kieran Doherty/Reuters

Police in Salisbury, England, have arrested a man who, they say, tried to steal the Magna Carta — the 1215 document that established basic tenets of the rule of law. "The Magna Carta has not been damaged and nobody was injured in the incident," Wiltshire Police said.

The police say the man set off alarms at the Salisbury Cathedral when he tried to shatter the glass shield that protects the Magna Carta. The document was not damaged, police say.

"Only four copies of Magna Carta dating from 1215 have survived the ravages of time and Salisbury Cathedral is proud to be home to the best preserved original manuscript," the cathedral says.

From the version of events given by police, it seems the attempted theft was not the work of a master criminal. There were "a number of witnesses" in the cathedral around 5 p.m. local time Thursday when, police say, the man simply attacked the glass box.

The suspect, whom police have not publicly identified other than to say he's 45 years old, was arrested for attempted theft, possessing "an offensive weapon" and inflicting criminal damage.

Wiltshire Police released a photo showing three holes had been punched into the glass that protects the Magna Carta, and they asked anyone who witnessed the crime to get in touch.

The Salisbury document is one of the original charters that bore King John's seal. The man who's suspected of trying to steal the Magna Carta is now protected by its 39th clause — the one guaranteeing the right to a fair trial.</s>Image copyright PA Image caption The hammer made three holes in the top layer of protective glass

A hammer-wielding man has been arrested after an attempted smash and grab of a Magna Carta from its display at Salisbury Cathedral.

Alarms went off when the would-be thief tried to break through the glass box which protects the charter on Thursday.

The suspect was held on suspicion of attempted theft of the document - claimed to be the best preserved of four original Magna Cartas.

It was not damaged and nobody was injured, police said.

The man was wrestled to the ground by staff when he attempted to flee after the attempted raid at 16:45 BST, the Dean of Salisbury said.

The Very Reverend Nick Papadopoulos said: "There were people around so the cry went up, it was pretty thick glass so it hadn't yielded easily despite having a hammer hit it.

"It was a great shock but everyone responded magnificently, both our staff and volunteers and members of the public.

"They raised a cry and he did not get away."

The drama unfolded just before Evensong near to closing time at the visitor centre.

Dean Papadopoulos added: "He had been carrying a hammer so our guys were very courageous.

"They were able to restrain him and they held him for 12 minutes."

Image copyright PA Image caption The Dean of Salisbury Cathedral described his staff as "courageous" after they restrained the man

A silent alarm was activated which alerted staff to the disturbance, he added.

A 45-year-old man is being held on suspicion of attempted theft, criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon.

He has been taken to Melksham police station where he is being questioned.

Magna Carta is a charter of rights agreed by King John in 1215. It is considered one of Britain's most influential legal manuscripts.

Several versions were sent around the country "as evidence of the King's decision", according to Salisbury Cathedral's website.

Only four original copies survive today, and the cathedral is home to what is claimed to be "the most beautiful".

The charter was put on display at the cathedral three years ago as part of an exhibition funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The charter has been removed for safe-keeping while the case is refurbished, Dean Papadopoulos said.

A facsimile copy of the charter will be displayed, and the visitor centre will re-open as soon as possible.

Image copyright PA Image caption The document is displayed at Chapter House at the cathedral

What is Magna Carta?

Magna Carta outlined basic rights with the principle that no one was above the law, including the king.

It charted the right to a fair trial, and limits on taxation without representation.

It inspired a number of other documents, including the US Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Only three clauses are still valid - the one guaranteeing the liberties of the English Church; the clause confirming the privileges of the city of London and other towns; and the clause that states that no free man shall be imprisoned without the lawful judgement of his equals.

The British Library has two copies of the 1215 Magna Carta.

Source: The British Library

The historical document is encased in two glass layers, Dean Papadopoulos added.

"The layer that is closest to the document itself was completely untouched by the individual concerned, but his hammer did do some damager to the initial glass screen."

Two copies of the Magna Carta that date from 1215 are held by the British Library and go on regular display there.

The Salisbury copy went on display in 2015 in the 13th Century Chapter House at the cathedral.</s>(LONDON) — A man suspected of trying to steal a Magna Carta from its display case at Salisbury Cathedral has been arrested after he was wrestled to the ground by cathedral employees, British authorities said Friday.

Wiltshire Police said cathedral alarms sounded Thursday afternoon in the southwestern English city when a person armed with a hammer tried to smash the glass box surrounding the Magna Carta.

The Magna Carta — Latin for Great Charter — is considered the founding document of English law and civil liberties, a document that influenced the shapers of the U.S. Constitution.

The document, granted by King John in 1215, established the principle that the king was subject to the law, rather than above it. It also stipulated that “no free man shall be seized or imprisoned … except by the lawful judgment of his equals or by the law of the land.”

The Magna Carta on display at the cathedral is one of four surviving originals.

The dean of the cathedral said the suspect was able to smash through one of two protective glass screens housing the precious document. The Rev. Canon Nicholas Papadopulos praised “courageous” staff members who he said were able to restrain the man for 12 minutes before authorities got to the scene.

“He walked out of the Chapter House and tried to leave the cathedral via our work yard and he was detained there and restrained until the police arrived,” the dean said.

The 45-year-old suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted theft, possession of a weapon and criminal damage, police said. He has not been identified or charged.

Police said the Magna Carta was not damaged and no one was hurt during the incident. But, with its display case damaged, the cathedral said the Magna Carta will be taken out of public view for the moment.

“We are very sorry that, for the time being, our copy of Magna Carta will not be available to visitors and will have it back on display as soon as we can,” the cathedral said.

The other originals are at Lincoln Cathedral and the British Library in London, which has two in its collection.

Salisbury Cathedral has also been in the news recently because two Russians accused of carrying out the March nerve agent attack on ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia claimed during a TV interview in September that they had traveled to Salisbury to see its “famous cathedral,” not to poison anyone.

In addition to the rare Magna Carta, the cathedral is known for having the tallest cathedral spire in Britain.</s>A man who was arrested on suspicion of attempting to steal the Magna Carta from Salisbury Cathedral has been released on bail, police say.

The 45-year-old was accused of trying to smash a glass box that contains the Medieval document dating to 1215.

Alarms were activated at the cathedral and the police were called shortly before 5pm on Wednesday.

Wiltshire Police said on Saturday that the man had been bailed until 20 November as officers continue their investigation.

Cathedral employees wrestled a hammer-wielding man to the ground on Thursday after he attempted to smash the glass and steal the treasured manuscript from the Chapter House of the building.

A second layer of glass prevented the document from being damaged. Nobody was hurt.

Salisbury Cathedral's Magna Carta is one of four existing specimens of the 1215 charter that established the principle that the king is subject to the law.

It is considered the founding document of English law and influenced the creation of the US constitution.

Police previously said in a statement that the man had been arrested on suspicion of attempted theft, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage.

An American tourist from Louisiana reportedly helped capture the suspect, saying he held him to the ground until police arrived.

Matt Delcambre told The Sun newspaper: "I just had to stop him.

"I couldn't let him get away with it.

"The Magna Carta is one of the most important documents in the world."

He said he and his wife were sightseeing in the English city when a man tried to shatter the glass encasing the manuscript after a fire alarm was set off.</s>A man was under arrest on Friday after he tried to steal an original copy of the Magna Carta, the United Kingdom's oldest charter of civil rights, signed in 1215, from Salisbury Cathedral, police said Friday.

Wiltshire Police said a 45-year-old man tried to smash a reinforced glass box containing one of four original copies of the Magna Carta, which is considered to be one of the UK's most valuable and important documents.</s>A 45-year-old man has been arrested for attempting to steal the Magna Carta from Salisbury Cathedral in England.

A 45-year-old man has been arrested for attempting to steal the Magna Carta from Salisbury Cathedral in England.

The alarms at the Wiltshire cathedral were sounded when a man smashed the glass box surrounding the original 1215 document. It is understood the man was a visitor and used a hammer to try to break the protective case to get his hands on the historic deed.

A witness said she was walking past the cathedral as the alarms went off, which prompted an evacuation. Seconds later, she saw a man get apprehended.

She told the 'Salisbury Journal': "It looked like some men play-fighting but as they got through the gates I saw a hammer drop to the floor and one of the men kicked it into the road whilst another man held on to him.

"They then held onto him with hands behind his back whilst they picked up the hammer."

A police spokeswoman told 'The Telegraph': "A 45-year-old man is in custody this morning arrested on suspicion of attempted theft of the Magna Carta.

"Alarms were activated at Salisbury Cathedral after an attempt was made to smash the glass box surrounding the Magna Carta. Staff were alerted and police were called.

"A man matching the description given by witnesses was arrested on suspicion of attempted theft, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage, and has been taken to Melksham custody for questioning where he remains.

"The Magna Carta has not been damaged and nobody was injured in the incident."

The document has been removed from public display after the incident. (© Daily Telegraph London)</s>Man arrested for trying to steal the original Magna Carta from Salisbury Cathedral. Picture: Charles Miranda

Man arrested for trying to steal the original Magna Carta from Salisbury Cathedral. Picture: Charles Miranda

A MAN has been arrested after allegedly trying to smash the case holding the Magna Carta with a hammer in a bid to steal it.

The suspect, 45, was arrested at Salisbury Cathedral on Thursday afternoon, with the building having to be evacuated while police responded, The Sun reports.

Officers arrested the man on suspicion of attempted theft, possession of an offensive weapon, and criminal damage.

On-lookers said that members of the public originally spotted the danger and intervened.

"We were walking past the cathedral as the alarms started, and everyone was starting to come out," one witness said.

"As we got to the stonemason's gateway we heard some shouting and could see a few people coming out of the gates so we stopped.

"It looked like some men 'play-fighting' but as they got through the gates I saw a hammer drop to the floor and one of the men kicked it into the road while another man held on to him.

"They then held onto him with hands behind his back while they picked up the hammer - lots of people around started to come over. The men really did a good job."

The Magna Carta, which dates to 1215, has not been damaged.

Salisbury Cathedral has confirmed the incident, adding that "for the time being our copy of the Magna Carta will not be available to visitors". However, it promised it will be back on display soon.

In a statement, Wiltshire Police said: "Shortly before 5pm yesterday alarms were activated at Salisbury Cathedral after an attempt was made to smash the glass box surrounding the Magna Carta. Staff were alerted and police were called.

"A man matching the description given by witnesses was arrested on suspicion of attempted theft, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage, and has been taken to Melksham custody for questioning where he remains."

The police confirmed that the Magna Carta was not damaged and nobody was injured in the incident.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.</s>LONDON — British police said Friday they have arrested a man suspected of trying to steal a Magna Carta from its display case at Salisbury Cathedral.

Wiltshire Police said cathedral alarms sounded Thursday afternoon when a person tried to smash the glass box surrounding the Magna Carta.

The Magna Carta granted by King John in 1215 has become an enduring symbol of the rule of law. The document on display at the cathedral is one of four surviving original Magna Cartas.

Police say the Magna Carta was not damaged and no one was hurt during the incident.

The 45-year-old suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted theft, possession of a weapon and criminal damage. He has not been identified or charged.

Police said the man matched a description given by witnesses. Officials have asked other eyewitnesses to come forward with details.

Salisbury Cathedral has been in the news recently because two Russians accused of carrying out the nerve agent attack on ex-spy Sergei and Yulia Skripal claimed during a TV interview in September that they had traveled to Salisbury to see its "famous cathedral," not to poison anyone.

In addition to the rare Magna Carta, the cathedral is known for having the tallest cathedral spire in Britain.</s>LONDON (AP) - British police have arrested a man suspected of trying to steal a Magna Carta from its display case at Salisbury Cathedral.

Wiltshire Police said Friday that cathedral alarms sounded Thursday afternoon when a person tried to smash the glass box surrounding the Magna Carta.

The Magna Carta granted by King John in 1215 has become an enduring symbol of the rule of law. The document on display at the cathedral is one of four surviving original Magna Cartas.

Police say the Magna Carta was not damaged and no one was hurt during the incident.

The suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted theft, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage. He has not been identified or charged.

Police say the man matched a description given by witnesses.

FILE - In this file photo dated Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015, The Salisbury Cathedral 1215 copy of the Magna Carta is installed in a glass display cabinet marking the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta at Runnymede in 1215, in Salisbury, England. British police said Friday Oct. 26, 2018, that cathedral alarms sounded Thursday afternoon when a person tried to smash the glass display box surrounding the Magna Carta in Salisbury Cathedral, and a man has been arrested. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, FILE)</s>A man has been arrested on suspicion of trying to steal a Magna Carta from Salisbury Cathedral.

Wiltshire police said the 45-year-old was arrested on Thursday after alarms were triggered by an attempt to smash the glass box in which the artefact was displayed.

A man matching witnesses’ descriptions was arrested on suspicion of attempted theft, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage. Police said he remained in custody.

The book was not damaged in the incident.

Magna Carta, one of the most significant documents in British history, is a peace treaty sealed by King John in 1215 that lays out rights agreed with rebel barons. While it only concerns the aristocracy, it is seen as a precursor to modern assertions of universal rights.

The edition at Salisbury Cathedral is one of only four copies of the original 1215 charter still in existence.
A man in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, is arrested for attempting to steal one of four existing original copies of Magna Carta from Salisbury Cathedral.