Man arrested after attempted theft of 1215 Magna Carta from Salisbury Cathedral
A man is in custody today after police arrested him on suspicion of trying to steal the Magna Carta.
Alarms were activated at Salisbury Cathedral shortly before 5pm yesterday after someone tried to smash the glass box surrounding the historic document, Wiltshire Police said today.
A 45-year-old man matching a witness description was taken into custody for alleged attempted theft, possession of a weapon and causing criminal damage.
An eyewitness told the Salisbury Journal that they saw a hammer drop to the ground amid a scuffle inside the cathedral.
“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,” the eyewitness said.
The 1215 copy of the Magna Carter is undamaged, police said.
Salisbury’s 1215 copy of the legal document is the best-surviving of one of just four versions of the text, which placed limits on the powers of the monarch, asserted that nobody is above the law, as well as guaranteeing the right to a fair trial.
Police called for eyewitnesses to contact them by dialling 101 and quoting crime reference number 541800101438.