By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 27 August 2014:
Tripoli’s iconic gazelle and nude woman fountain on the harbour front has been vandalised and . . .[restrict]badly damaged. A missile was fired at the Italian-era fountain, punching a gaping hole in the belly of the nude woman.
The identity of the vandals is unknown. Two years ago, Islamists threatened to destroy the fountain, necessitating police protection.
The attack has raised fears for Tripoli’s other public artifacts.
Locally known as the Ghazala fountain, it is a Tripoli landmark and is regarded with considerable affection by the capital’s residents. The women is supposed to represent Tripoli, known in Arabic as Arus Al-Bahr (the Bride of the Sea).
It is also referred to as the mermaid fountain. The assault on Tripoli that resulted in its liberation on 21 August 2011 was known as Operation Mermaid Dawn.
