WOMAN ATTACKS MONA LISA WITH MUG OF HOT TEA

A WOMAN IS BEING HELD IN PARIS AFTER ATTACKING THE MONA LISA WITH A CUP OF STEAMING HOT ENGLISH BREAKFAST TEA. THE WOMAN THREW THE CERAMIC MUG FULL OF THE BREW OVER THE HEADS OF TOURISTS, SCORING A DIRECT HIT ON THE MOST FAMOUS WORK OF ART IN THE WORLD, IN FRONT OF STUNNED SECURITY GUARDS AT THE FRENCH CAPITAL'S LOUVRE MUSEUM. THE MUG MERELY BOUNCED OFF THE BULLET-PROOF SECURITY GLASS AND SHATTERED ON THE FLOOR, A GUARD SAID. GUARDS WRESTLED THE RUSSIAN WOMAN TO THE GROUND FOLLOWING THE ATTACK ON SUNDAY 2.AUGUST, WHICH HAS ONLY JUST BEEN REPORTED. A MUSEUM SPOKESMAN SAID: "THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE TO THE PAINTING WHATSOEVER. IT IS PROTECTED BY GLASS ALMOST 2 CENTIMETERS THICK, AND ALSO CONTAINED IN A SPECIAL SEALED BOX TO PROTECT IT FROM VIBRATIONS AND HUMIDITY. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST WELL GUARDED WORKS OF ART IN THE WORLD, AND IT WOULD TAKE MORE THAN A WELL-AIMED TEA-CUP TO DAMAGE IT." SHE IS BEING HELD IN CUSTODY AND IS SAID TO HAVE UNDERGONE A PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION. DOCTORS WERE TRYING TO ASSESS WHETHER SHE WAS SUFFERING FROM STENDHAL SYNDROME, A RARE CONDITION THAT CAUSES DIZZINESS, CONFUSION OR VIOLENT ACTS WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL IS EXPOSED TO ART. A POLICE SPOKESMAN ADDED: "WE ARE STILL ESTABLISHING HER STATE OF MIND AT THE TIME THOUGH THERE IS A POSSIBILITY SHE COULD BE CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL DAMAGE." A SOURCE AT THE MUSEUM CLAIMED THE WOMAN HAD BOUGHT THE MUG OF TEA AT A MUSEUM CAFE. THE LAST ATTACK ON A WORK OF ART AT THE LOUVRE WAS IN 1998, WHEN A MATHEMATICS PROFESSOR ATTACKED A STATUE OF ROMAN PHILOSOPHER SENECA WITH A HAMMER. THE MONA LISA IS THE ONLY PAINTING EVER TO BEEN STOLEN FROM THE LOUVRE, IN 1911, AND THEN RECOVERED. IT IS OWNED BY THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT AND IS SEEN BY AN ESTIMATED 8.5 MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR.