A memorial dedicated to the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City has been vandalised, sparking widespread condemnation and emotional reactions.
Among those affected by the incident is former WWE wrestler Zelina Vega, whose real name is Xelina, as her father, Michael Angel Trinidad, was among the thousands of people who lost their lives in the attacks.
Reacting to the vandalism on social media, Vega expressed her feelings after learning that the memorial honouring the victims had been targeted.
According to reports, a 31-year-old man identified as Johnathan Andrew Tijerina was arrested after allegedly defacing the North Pool section of the 9/11 Memorial.
The suspect reportedly used red paint to write a political message across the engraved names of those who died in the tragedy.
Law enforcement officers apprehended Tijerina at the scene. He is facing charges, including criminal mischief and making graffiti, in connection with the incident.
Authorities estimated the damage caused by the vandalism to be approximately $2,500.
The message allegedly painted across the memorial read, “just stop killing kids”.
The incident has drawn attention to the significance of the memorial, which preserves the names of thousands of victims, including those whose families continue to honour their memories more than two decades after the attacks.
