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A statue of Christopher Columbus was found covered in red paint on Tuesday- on the anniversary of the day he arrived in America.
It was also marked with a red cross over the inscription which commemorates the life of the explorer.
The monument is in London's Belgrave Square and has stood there since 1992.
Sculptor Tomas Banuelos designed the statue to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus's expedition to the New World and it is a gift from Spain's people.
Christopher Columbus's statue (pictured) was found covered in red paint on Tuesday, on the anniversary of his arrival to the Americas
It was also marked with a red cross (pictured) over the inscription which commemorates the life of the explorer
Columbus Day, the anniversary of the explorer's arrival in America, is on 11 October.
President Franklin D Roosevelt first declared a Columbus Day in 1934
It was recognised in America and other countries including Italy and Spain for some years.
But many states and local governments have distanced themselves from celebrating the holiday and now choose to mark Indigenous Peoples' Day instead.
The holiday remembers the history and culture of Native American people.
Columbus Day courts controversy as the explorer used violence and slavery against indigenous people on his travels.
Now, many people have asked for statues of Columbus to be removed, defaced them or pulled them down across the world.
Most recently, a monument of Columbus was pulled down in the Little Italy neighbourhood of Baltimore.
Source: Wikipedia
The statue has stood in London's Belgrave Gardens since 1992
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The monument is in London's Belgrave Square (pictured) and has stood there since 1992. Sculptor Tomas Banuelos designed the statue to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Columbus's expedition
