Head knocked off Christopher Columbus statue in Boston

BOSTON — Police are investigating after someone knocked the head off the statue of Christopher Columbus in Boston's North End.

The incident was reported early Wednesday morning.

This is not the first time the statue has come under fire since it was erected in 1979.

In 2015, it was doused in fake blood with the words "Black Lives Matter" spray-painted on the back.

At the time, the group said they were not behind the act, but did support it, citing the explorer's history of oppressing indigenous people.

In 2006, the head of the statue was removed and went missing for nearly a week.

Statues have been targeted by protesters around the world speaking out against police brutality.

A Columbus statue in Richmond, Virginia was toppled and thrown into a lake on Tuesday night.