Bust of Edward Snowden found in Fort Greene Park, NYC removed

A bust of Edward Snowden, which suddenly appeared deep in a public park, in New York in the middle of the night, has been removed.

Bust of Edward Snowden found in Fort Greene Park, NYC removed

A 1.2-meter-high, 45-kilogram sculpted bust of the whistleblower, who is now exiled in Russia, was sneaked into Brooklyn's Fort Greene Park on Monday before dawn.

Bust of Edward Snowden found in Fort Greene Park, NYC removed

According to a local news website, Animal New York, the mysterious perpetrators were a small group of artists who are admirers of the former contractor who leaked classified information from the National Security Agency to the media. The activists hoisted the bust to the top of a Revolutionary War memorial, adding his name to a column. The website says the group allowed the installation of the statue to be documented, on the condition that their identities remained anonymous.

Bust of Edward Snowden found in Fort Greene Park, NYC removed

But Snowden's artistic appearance was short-lived.

At daybreak, police said city parks officials ordered the removal of the sculpted Snowden. And by evening, his bust was being held at Brooklyn's 88th Precinct pending an investigation.

Bust of Edward Snowden found in Fort Greene Park, NYC removed

The idea for the tribute was conceived by two New York City-based artists, and they were joined by a West Coast sculptor. In a statement to the online outlet, they said they had "updated" the memorial to American prisoners of war (POWs) who died during the Revolutionary War "to highlight those who sacrifice their safety in the fight against modern-day tyrannies."

Bust of Edward Snowden found in Fort Greene Park, NYC removed

"It would be a dishonor to those memorialized here to not laud those who protect the ideals they fought for, as Edward Snowden has by bringing the NSA's 4th-Amendment-violating surveillance programs to light."

Bust of Edward Snowden found in Fort Greene Park, NYC removed

Bust of Edward Snowden found in Fort Greene Park, NYC removed

Bust of Edward Snowden found in Fort Greene Park, NYC removed

Bust of Edward Snowden found in Fort Greene Park, NYC removed