Vandals target the Colosseum

AN exclusion zone could be set up around Rome’s Colosseum after it was hit by paint vandals.

The 2,000-year-old amphitheatre had the words Balto and Morte (death) sprayed in black on to a pillar in a night attack.

Francesco Prosperetti, superintendent for the Colosseum, said: ‘We are considering the idea of creating a no access zone, a red zone.

‘The area would be separated not by physical barriers but rather by chains defining the zone where video surveillance would be installed.’

Two Brazilians who tried to climb over a gate into the Colosseum on Monday were arrested when they fell 13 feet, one fracturing his hip. It is not known if they were the vandals.

Mr Prosperetti said the 15metre exclusion zone would operate at night because the Colosseum currently has no late-night security due to staff shortages.