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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Robert Dex

Man arrested after climbing to the top of Eros in Piccadilly Circus

A man has been arrested after he climbed the Eros Statue in Piccadilly Circus and refused to come down for three hours.

Video footage posted online showed the area around the 10-metre-high historic monument in central taped off and the London Fire Brigade and police in attendance.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Police put in road closures and cordons in Piccadilly Circus after a man climbed the Eros Statue at around 18:00hrs.

"Officers spoke to the man.

"He came down at around 21:00hrs and was arrested on suspicion of public nuisance and criminal damage.

"Road closures and cordons are now lifted."

The statue, which is formally known as the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain, shows the Greek God of Love Anteros.

It was originally in the centre of Piccadilly Circus but was moved to its current position on the southeastern sida after World War II.

It was built to make the achievements of the reformer and philanthropist the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury who campaigned against child labour. It overlooks Shaftesbury Avenue which is named after him.

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