On March 14, Lao Bao Commune Police (Quang Tri province) said they had clarified the perpetrators who caused the smashing of many horse statues displayed in the commune park.
The perpetrators are two children, one 7 years old and one 9 years old, residing in Ka Tang village (Lao Bao commune). The children used iron flagpoles to smash and cause serious damage to many horse statues.
It is known that these two children, one living with his paternal grandparents, one living with his mother, are rarely managed by their families, so they often wander around at night.
After verifying the act, Lao Bao Commune Police coordinated with local authorities and families to conduct deterrence and education for the children.
Regarding the horse statues after being destroyed, the leader of Lao Bao commune said that there will be two solutions. If the repair costs are appropriate, the commune will proceed to repair and re-exhibition; if not, they will be relocated to ensure aesthetics.
The horse statue model is made from socialized sources, inspired by the saying "Ma dao thanh cong", with different sizes and shapes, symbolizing the spirit of the new year. The horse statues are meticulously shaped, with iron frames, foam, plaster and finished paint on the outside. Artisan Dinh Van Tam is the person who created this model.
The series of horse statues has attracted tens of thousands of tourists and people to visit during the 2026 Lunar New Year. However, on March 11, some statues were slightly damaged, but the damage was more serious on March 12, causing many details of the horse statue to be broken and deformed due to sabotage.
