US tourist caused £21,000 damage

• Two American visitors are barred from visiting the Spanish Steps in Rome.
• One of them damaged the landmark by flinging an e-scooter down it.
• A passer-by captured an unnamed woman slamming the hired vehicle down the 18th century Unesco World Heritage Site in an apparent fit of rage.

Two American tourists are barred from visiting the Spanish Steps in Rome after one of them damaged the landmark by flinging an e-scooter down it.

A passer-by captured an unnamed woman tourist slamming the hired vehicle down the 18th century Unesco World Heritage Site in an apparent fit of rage.

After using security footage to track down the 28-year-old woman and her male companion, 29, police were able to apprehend them.

Read more: A tourist gets his $1 million watch snatched off from wrist

They each received a €400 (£343) punishment for the incident, which occurred at 3:45 a.m. on Friday.

According to local media, officers let them return to their hotel after confiscating their scooters.

The 16th and 29th stairs were damaged, along with other sections of the staircase, incurring £21,000 in damage, according to authorities.

Read more: Cottonland Castle to open for tourists: Texas

After the couple’s video ends, the woman is said to have thrown the scooter twice more ‘for sheer fun,’ according to Italian news site La Repubblica.

In 2015, jeweller Bulgari funded a £1.2 million restoration project on the staircase.

In 2018, individuals were prohibited from sitting on the steps, making it one of Rome’s most heavily guarded tourist attractions.

It comes only weeks after a 37-year-old Saudi businessman drove a Maserati down the Spanish Steps, despite the fact that he didn’t think it was “that serious” at the time.

Read more: Japan to open to tourists after two years but only with masks, insurance, guides

He told Corriere della Sera, ‘Yes, it was me who drove the car down the Spanish Steps. But I just took a wrong turn.’