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Astronaut attacked in Bristol city centre
A model astronaut placed outside At-Bristol on Millennium Square was attacked by a group of vandals.
The group of youths were caught on CCTV pulling the life-size intergalactic explorer to the ground and breaking its visor.
The astronaut had been placed outside the museum as part of an installation to celebrate the opening of At-Bristol’s refurbished 3D Planetarium last month.
Built by local model-makers and set builders Cod Steaks, it was accompanied by a planetarium spaceship, complete with fins and smoke.
But the model, which had become a favourite for passers-by posing for pictures, was attacked some time between Saturday, May 2, and the early hours of Sunday morning.
“We’ve become quite attached to our astronaut here, so it’s really disappointing to see it damaged in this way,” said Simon Ridge, head of estates for At-Bristol. “We hope that people will give it some TLC when they are back after having a new visor and extra precautions fitted.”
Jen Forster from At-Bristol said the astronaut will be back in the next few weeks after repairs have been finished.
She added that CCTV seemed to show a “group of youths” pulling the model, which was attached to a bollard, to the ground and breaking its visor.
“Because there are so many bars around here we get so many groups like this coming past us late at night,” she added.
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