Donald Trump's Hollywood Walk of Fame star defaced

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/26/donald-trump-hollywood-walk-of-fame-star-damaged

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A star dedicated to Donald Trump on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has been badly vandalized after it was reportedly attacked with a sledgehammer.

An image posted online showed the US presidential candidate’s star on Hollywood Boulevard had been smashed to pieces and his name removed from it.

According to Deadline, a man dressed as a city construction worker, carrying a sledgehammer and pickaxe, targeted the star on Wednesday morning.

The man told the Hollywood trade magazine he originally intended to remove Trump’s star to auction it off to raise funds for women who have accused the Republican candidate of sexually assaulting them.

Trump has vehemently denied the allegations.

The billionaire tycoon received the 2,327th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007 for his work on the American version of The Apprentice.

It has been repeatedly vandalized in recent months following his controversial comments about banning Muslims from entering the US and building a wall on the US-Mexico border.

In July, a British artist known as Plastic Jesus installed a mini-wall around Trump’s star, topped with razor wire, miniature US flags and “Keep Out” signs.

Following the latest vandal attack, a tent was erected over the damaged star, preventing passersby from viewing it.

A Los Angeles police department spokeswoman said the force received a report that the star had been vandalized at 6am PT.

Officers were at the scene and an investigation was under way, she added. No details of the suspect were released.