United Kingdom: Minor arrested after cutting down Robin Hood tree

A 16-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the felling of one of the iconic symbols of the United Kingdom: the Robin Hood maple tree, known as the "Sycamore Gap." This is the tree that appears in the 1991 film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves." Below the tree, Robin Hood (Kevin Costner) lay and watched the sunset.

The tree, located in Northumberland, later became a monument preserved and cared for by local municipalities. Thousands of tourists traveled to the spot each year to see it, on the route of Hadrian's Roman Wall.

On Thursday, the tree was found chopped down, and since then, police have opened an investigation to clarify what happened. Authorities assure that it was an act of deliberate vandalism. As can be seen in the images that have been shared online, the trunk of the tree has an almost perfectly clean cut, likely made with a mechanical tool such as a chainsaw.

Members of the local government said they were devastated and astonished by the news. "The tree is a world-renowned landmark and the vandalism has caused understandable shock and anger throughout the local community and beyond," said Kevin Waring, head of the Northumberland Police.

Guy Opperman, a member of Rishi Sunak's conservative government, also offered some words on the attack of the British icon. Opperman described the act as "criminal" and expressed sadness that, despite police action, "the tree is gone."