(London) A work of art on a street sign in London suddenly disappeared on Friday, carried away by a running man just after being claimed by Banksy.
The work, three aircraft that appear to be combat drones on a stop sign, was published on the enigmatic artist’s Instargram account, through which he usually authenticates his creations.
Shortly after, around 12:30 p.m., the sign was dismantled and taken away by a man who ran away with the work under his arm, according to videos of the scene filmed by witnesses and broadcast by British media.
A witness named Alex, 26, told the British agency PA that the onlookers who were there remained silent in the face of what was unfolding before their eyes.
“We said ‘what are you doing?’ but no one really knew what to do,” said this witness.
Contacted by AFP, the London police indicated that they had not received any reports on this subject.
Several works by Banksy have already been stolen in the past, including a door from the Parisian Bataclan room, which paid tribute to the victims of the November 13 attacks.
Others have been compromised, like a mural denouncing domestic violence, representing a housewife with a look from the 1950s or 1960s, disfigured by a black eye and a broken tooth, while the a man’s legs protrude from an old, very real, horizontal freezer placed against the wall.
The freezer was quickly removed for safety reasons, confusing the understanding of the work, before being reinstalled.