Danish Mermaid Statue Given a Headscarf

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — The Little Mermaid statue in Denmark's capital was found draped in a Muslim dress and headscarf yesterday morning. Police removed the clothing after a telephone caller reported it, spokesman Jorgen Thomsen said.

The statue, sculpted in tribute to author Hans Christian Andersen, draws about 1 million visitors a year and is targeted occasionally by vandals. On Tuesday, the statue's face, left arm, and lap were found doused with red paint.

In 2004, someone put a burqa, the head-to-toe Islamic robe, on the statue, along with a sign questioning Turkey's bid to join the European Union. The bronze statue by Edvard Eriksen has sat on a rock in Copenhagen harbor since 1913.