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Who Knew the Colosseum Was So Old? Tourist Apologizes for Defacement.

A man who etched his initials and those of his girlfriend in a wall of the nearly 2,000-year-old monument wrote a letter of apology, and his lawyer says he is hoping for a plea bargain.

By Elisabetta Povoledo

A man seen on video last month using his keys to etch his love for his girlfriend on a wall in the Colosseum in Rome has written a letter of apology, saying he had no idea the nearly 2,000-year-old monument was so ancient.

“I admit with deepest embarrassment that it was only after what regrettably happened that I learned of the monument’s antiquity,” the man — identified by his lawyer as Ivan Danailov Dimitrov, 27 — wrote in a letter dated July 4 and addressed to the Rome prosecutor’s office, the mayor of Rome and “the municipality of Rome.”

Portions of the letter were first published on Wednesday in the Rome daily newspaper Il Messaggero.

In it, Mr. Dimitrov acknowledged the “seriousness of the deed I committed,” and offered his “heartfelt and sincere apologies to Italians and the entire world for the damage done to a monument, which is, in fact, heritage of all humanity.” Mr. Dimitrov offered to “sincerely and concretely” right his wrong and redeem himself.

The carving came to light last month after a fellow tourist in Rome filmed a man scratching “Ivan + Hayley 23/6/23” into a brick on a wall of the Colosseum. The video went viral, and “Ivan,” whose identity was then not known, was widely rebuked for his devil-may-care attitude. Admonished — with an expletive — by the video-taker, Mr. Dimitrov carried on.

The brick that was defaced was actually part of a wall built during a mid-19th century restoration of the monument, which was inaugurated in the first century A.D. But that made little difference to Colosseum authorities who said that it didn’t change the fact that the act was vandalism.

Mr. Dimitrov was eventually identified by Italian military police officers who crosschecked the two lovers’ names with registered guests in Rome and found they had stayed in an Airbnb rental in the Cinecittà neighborhood. Roberto Martina, the police commander who oversaw the operation, said they tracked Mr. Dimitrov to England, where he and his girlfriend, who is not under investigation, live.

Italy is no stranger to unruly visitors leaving their mark. Three years ago, a spate of incidents prompted lawmakers to stiffen penalties for vandalizing Italy’s venerable cultural heritage. And the country wants to impose even tougher laws on climate activists, who have vandalized cultural property to protest what they call government inaction on climate change.

“It should be said that when foreign tourists come to Italy, from anywhere, not any particular nationality, there’s this idea that they’ve come to a country where everything is allowed, where they turn a blind eye, where it’s ‘that’s how it goes,’” said Alexandro Maria Tirelli, Mr. Dimitrov’s lawyer. But his client may get caught in the crackdown, risking between two and five years in prison and a fine up to 15,000 euros, about $16,300. Mr. Tirelli said he was hoping for a plea bargain that will allow his client to pay a fine but serve no jail time.

Mr. Dimitrov’s apology, the lawyer said, was an attempt to make clear “that he had pulled what he thought was a harmless stunt.”

Italian media on Wednesday pulled no punches. The letter of apology “defaced common sense,” Il Messaggero declared. Dagospia, a popular online website, suggested the letter only made things worse (Did he think the Colosseum was a fast-food restaurant, it asked?). A news anchor on the lunchtime news program of RAI 1, the main state channel, said the fact that Mr. Dimitrov hadn’t known that the monument was ancient “is really a somewhat unbelievable excuse.”

A spokesman for the Rome’s mayor office said that they had not received Mr. Dimitrov’s letter. The Rome prosecutor’s office declined to comment.

“I hope this apology will be accepted,” Mr. Dimitrov wrote in the letter.

An earlier version of this article misstated the age of Ivan Danailov Dimitrov. He is 27, not 31.

How we handle corrections

Elisabetta Povoledo is a reporter based in Rome and has been writing about Italy for more than three decades. More about Elisabetta Povoledo

English tourist filmed carving into Rome's Colosseum claims ignorance of the monument's age

An English tourist who was filmed carving a note into the Colosseum in Rome has written a letter apologizing for defacing the nearly 2,000-year-old amphitheater and claimed he was unaware that the world-famous landmark was ancient.

The letter addressed to Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri was published Wednesday in Il Messaggero , an Italian newspaper based in Rome. In the letter, the man, identified by his lawyer as 27-year-old Ivan Danailov Dimitrov, wrote: “I admit with deepest embarrassment that it was only after what regrettably happened that I learned of the antiquity of the monument.”

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Dimitrov, who could face prison time and a hefty fine, went on to say he was “aware of the gravity of the act” while extending “my heartfelt apologies to the Italians and to the whole world for the damage done to an asset that is, in fact, the heritage of all humanity.”

Completed by Roman Emperor Titus in 80 A.D., the Colosseum became famous for the gladiators who would battle, often to the death, for the amusement of tens of thousands of spectators.

Dimitrov was the man seen using a key to etch “Ivan+Haley 23” − his name and the name of his significant other − into an internal wall of the monument in video originally shared to YouTube . Recorded by an outraged onlooker, the video of the the stunt, titled “(Expletive) tourist carves name in Colosseum in Rome,” was uploaded June 23 to YouTube before being widely shared across social media, eliciting condemnation.

The video also alerted police to the vandalism, and Italian officials soon vowed to find and punish the man responsible.

“I consider it very serious, unworthy and a sign of great incivility that a tourist defaces one of the most famous places in the world, a historical heritage (site) such as the Colosseum, to carve the name of his fiancee," the country's culture minister, Gennaro Sangiuliano,  tweeted on June 26, along with a video of the incident.

A five-day search led Italian police to Dimitrov, whom they traced to his home in Britain, according to The Associated Press . Vandalizing the Colosseum is an act that carries fines up up to $15,000 and five years in prison, the agency reported.

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Dimitrov’s lawyer, Alexandro Maria Tirelli, told Il Messaggero he hopes for leniency.

“The boy is the prototype of the foreigner who frivolously believes that anything is allowed in Italy," Tirelli told Il Messaggero, "even the type of act which in their own countries would be severely punished."

Contributing: The Associated Press

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricLagatta.

The tourist who defaced the nearly 2,000-year-old Colosseum in Rome says he wasn't aware of the monument's age

• A tourist carved "Ivan+Haley 23" into the nearly 2,000-year-old Colosseum in Rome.
• The man was identified as Ivan Dimitrov, and he faces fines of up to $16,000 and five years in jail.
• Dimitrov said in an apology letter that he didn't realize the ancient site's age.

A tourist who sparked outrage for defacing a wall of the Colosseum in Rome said in an apology letter that he wasn't aware of the monument's age.

The tourist — who was identified as Ivan Dimitrov, a 27-year-old fitness instructor living in Bristol, England, according to The Guardian — was seen using a key to carve "Ivan+Haley 23" into the nearly 2,000-year-old Roman structure in a video originally shared to YouTube .

Related stories

Italy's culture minister, Gennaro Sangiuliano , then shared the footage on Twitter on June 26 and said he hoped the vandal would be "identified and sanctioned according to our laws," according to a translation by CBS News .

—Gennaro Sangiuliano (@g_sangiuliano) June 26, 2023

The Guardian reported that it took five days for the police to find Dimitrov, who was traced by the Italian police to England.

According to the Italian news agency ANSA , Dimitrov could face up to $16,000 in fines and five years in prison.

Dimitrov has since written an apology letter to Rome's mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, and the prosecutor's office, which was shared in Rome's Il Messaggero newspaper on Wednesday.

"Through these lines, I would like to address my heartfelt and honest apologies to the Italians and to the whole world for the damage caused to an asset which, in fact, is the heritage of all humanity," he wrote in the letter.

Dimitrov also said in his letter that he wasn't aware of the ancient monument's age or the "seriousness of the deed committed."

"It is with deep embarrassment that only after what regrettably happened did I learn of the antiquity of the monument," he wrote.

Dimitrov's lawyer, Alexandro Maria Tirelli, told Il Messaggero that "the boy is the prototype of the foreigner who frivolously believes that anything is allowed in Italy, even the type of act which in their own countries would be severely punished."

Watch: Garbage and floodwater fill up streets in Italy, disrupting tourist season

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What happened to the tourist accused of carving his name into Rome Colosseum wall?

Ivan dimitrov, a 27-year-old fitness instructor living in bristol, faces up to five years in prison and a €15,000 fine after being filmed defacing 2,000-year-old amphitheatre of world historical importance, article bookmarked.

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The British tourist who attracted outrage in Rome after being accused of carving his name into the Colosseum walls with a key is facing up to five years in prison and a €15,000 (£12,850) fine .

The man – identified as Ivan Dimitrov , a 27-year-old fitness instructor and delivery driver resident in Bristol but originally from Bulgaria – was visiting Italy’s Eternal City with his girlfriend Hayley Bracey when he was filmed scratching “Ivan + Hayley 23” into the ancient stone walls of the 2,000-year-old amphitheatre.

The venue, a protected Unesco World Heritage site , was constructed during the reigns of the emperors Vespasian and Titus in the first century AD. It attracted the Roman public to see spectacular gladiatorial bouts, historical reenactments and parades of exotic wild animals imported from Africa and the Middle East, including elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, lions, leopards, panthers and ostriches.

The act of vandalism was caught on camera by another visitor, Californian Ryan Lutz, who was incensed by the incident and asked “Are you serious, man?”. He then uploaded the footage to YouTube under the title “A****** tourist carves name in Colosseum in Rome”, where it promptly went viral.

The Italian Carabinieri responded to the video and quickly identified Mr Dimitrov as their suspect, with Major Roberto Martina telling the media he had expressed “sincere remorse” for his actions when confronted.

• British tourist who carved name into Colosseum begs for forgiveness
• Tourist accused of vandalising Colosseum in Rome could face trial and up to five years in prison
• Tourist who carved name into Rome’s Colosseum ‘is British fitness trainer’

“He told us he was very upset by what he had done, and he kept apologising for it,” Major Martina told Mail Online .

“I think he was worried about the consequences of any trial and we explained that he could be jailed for between two and five years and be fined up to €15,000,” he said.

The major went on to say he believed the case would be reasonably straightforward to prosecute because of the video evidence.

“He had contacted us after we secured his mobile telephone from hotel records and left a message for him to call us,” Major Martina said of the Carabineri’s investigation.

“He was naturally worried about the legal implications, and these were all explained to him.

“We didn’t ask him why he did it, that will be for a judge to hear, we just told him that he was a suspect and was part of the investigation.”

The officer added that Ms Bracey “is not part of any complaint so is an innocent party as far as we are concerned”, adding: “Although technically, she could be seen as an accessory.”

Italian culture minister Gennaro Sangiuliano thanked the police for identifying the suspect of the “uncivilised and absurd act committed at the Colosseum”.

“It was an act that offended those around the world who appreciate the value of archaeology, monuments and history,” he said.

“Now I hope justice will take its course by rigorously applying the laws.”

This is not the first such incident at the Colosseum.

A Russian tourist was given a suspended four-year jail sentence and fined €20,000 (£17,000) in 2014 for engraving a “K” on its walls.

The following year, two American tourists were also cited for aggravated damage after they likewise carved their names into its stones.

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Italian police say man filmed carving names on Colosseum a tourist from UK

A man filmed engraving his name and that of his apparent girlfriend on Rome's ancient Colosseum last week is a tourist who lives in the UK, Italian police say.

Key points:

• Italian law-enforcement officials say they identified the man using photographic comparisons
• The tourist carved "Ivan+Haley 23" on the the wall of the Colosseum last week
• Such an act carries fines up up to $23,000 and five years in prison

The man was identified using photographic comparisons, Italy's Carabinieri  law-enforcement agency said in a press release.

The statement did not provide the name of the suspect nor his whereabouts.

When reached by phone, police said they could not provide further information.

Italian officials have vowed to find and punish the tourist who carved "Ivan+Haley 23" on the the wall of the 2,000-year-old structure, a crime that has resulted in hefty fines in the past.

The vandal was filmed in the act by an American tourist Ryan Lutz , from California in the US, who posted the video on social media after he said Colosseum guards failed to show interest in his footage.

It is at least the fourth time this year graffitiing has been reported at the Colosseum, an act that carries fines up up to $23,000 and five years in prison.

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Outcry after tourist carves name on wall at the Colosseum in Rome

Italy’s culture minister has called for the man who defaced the site with ‘Ivan+Hayley 23’ to be identified and prosecuted

Italian police are on the hunt for a young tourist who carved his and his girlfriend’s names into a wall of the Colosseum, sparking widespread condemnation.

The English-speaking tourist was filmed by an onlooker using keys to engrave “Ivan+Hayley 23” into the wall of the 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheatre on Friday afternoon.

The clip, entitled “ Asshole tourist carves name in Colosseum in Rome ”, was uploaded on to YouTube before being widely shared across social media, eventually alerting police to the incident.

The culprit has not yet been officially identified, although there are strong suspicions that he is called Ivan.

If caught and convicted, the suspect faces hefty repercussions: a fine of at least €15,000 and a prison term of up to five years.

Italy’s culture minister, Gennaro Sangiuliano, shared the video on Twitter, describing the transgression as “very serious” and “a sign of great incivility that a tourist defaces one of the most famous places in the world, the Colosseum, to engrave the name of his fiancée”.

He added: “I hope that whoever did this will be identified and sanctioned according to our laws.”

Daniela Santanchè, the tourism minister, called for Italy’s culture and history to be respected. “We cannot allow those who visit our nation to feel free to behave in this way,” she said.

The man was also criticised by fellow tourists. “I understand that some of them want to leave their mark, but we believe that things should be preserved as they are,” one told La Presse, a news agency. Another said: “This behaviour really makes me angry.”

However, it is not the first time the Colosseum has been defaced.

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In September 2020, a 32-year-old man from Ireland was allegedly caught using a metal point to carve his initials into a pillar on the first level of the monument. He was arrested and charged with damaging a historical landmark.

A German girl of 14 was allegedly caught doing the same thing a month later.

Alfonsina Russo, the director of the Colosseum, said there appeared to be a “lack of education” among people who commit such acts. “Anyone who writes on monuments has obviously not been educated about our cultural heritage.”

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Man carves love note into Colosseum in latest case of tourist misbehavior

A man was seen on video carving the name of his girlfriend into the walls of the Colosseum, drawing outrage from the Italian culture minister, who said the suspect should be identified and punished.

Videos showing the man in the act have been going viral since last week, according to Italy’s ANSA news agency. The unidentified tourist engraved “Ivan+Haley 23” onto the almost 2,000-year-old structure in Rome. He could face up to five years in prison and a fine of about $16,400, ANSA reported .

Gennaro Sangiuliano, the culture minister, tweeted Monday that he considered it “a sign of great incivility.” He expressed hope that the man would be legally punished.

Rome, home to some of the world’s most popular tourist sites, has been in a battle to clamp down on obnoxious visitors. In 2018, the mayor signed legislation that targets tourists who engage in certain behavior, such as bathing in public waterworks. The law requires visitors who vandalize artifacts such as the Colosseum to restore them to their earlier condition.

Suspects who previously raised eyebrows at the Colosseum include an Irish tourist accused of carving his initials there; two American women accused of carving the letters “J” and “N”; and two other Americans accused of breaking into the amphitheater to enjoy their morning beers.

The worst part of a vacation? The annoying things that other tourists do.

Venice, another Italian tourist draw, has also had its fair share of ignorant tourists. Since at least 1986, the city has imposed decorum codes and fines on unruly visitors. The city penalizes feeding pigeons, littering and surfing in its canals. Last year, two Australian visitors were fined $1,500 each after riding motorized surfboards in the Grand Canal.

Mayor Luigi Brugnaro tweeted that the surfers were “imbeciles.”

Ecco due imbecilli prepotenti che si fanno beffa della Città… chiedo a tutti di aiutarci a individuarli per punirli anche se le nostre armi sono davvero spuntate… servono urgentemente più poteri ai Sindaci in tema di sicurezza pubblica! A chi li individua offro una cena! pic.twitter.com/DV2ONO3hUs — Luigi Brugnaro (@LuigiBrugnaro) August 17, 2022

Some destinations have unfortunately become magnets for misbehavior.

On Indonesia’s resort island of Bali , immigration officials announced last week that they deported a Russian man who posted a photo on social media showing him with his pants around his ankles atop Mount Agung, a sacred site for Hindus.

It was not the first time that tourists have violated cultural norms at sacred sites.

In 2010, a French dancer stripped on Uluru, or Ayers Rock, a massive monolith in central Australia that’s considered sacred to the local Aboriginal people. How would “French people feel if an Australian danced semi-naked on the altar of the Notre Dame?” Kon Vatskalis, who was at the time a senior local government official, told the Australian media. “I think Aboriginal people have every right to be outraged.”

In 2018, Cambodian authorities kicked seven Westerners out of their country, accusing them of “singing and dancing pornographically” near the famed Angkor Wat temple complex, which dates to the 12th century. Photos from the Cambodian police show a group of people dressed but cavorting on the floor.

Tourists have also harmed wildlife at popular spots. In the United States, national parks have urged visitors leave animals alone.

Last month, a man from Hawaii sought to help a baby bison reunite with its herd. The unsolicited interjection left the calf rejected by its herd and compelled Yellowstone National Park officials to euthanize it.

At the Assateague Island National Seashore in Virginia and Maryland, tourists have fed wild horses, forcing park officials to relocate at least one that developed food aggression. It is illegal to “feed, touch, tease, frighten or intentionally disturb wildlife,” according to the National Park Service .

News | Tourist filmed defacing Rome’s Colosseum…

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News | Tourist filmed defacing Rome’s Colosseum has been identified, police say

A tourist from orange took video of the traveler scratching “ivan+hayley 23” on a brick wall of the ancient building..

He caused shockwaves around the world when he was filmed apparently carving his name into a wall of Rome’s 2,000-year-old Colosseum – and grinning when he realized he was caught on camera.

Now, he’s likely to be in shock himself.

SEE MORE: OC tourist’s video of man defacing the Colosseum in Rome makes international news

The visitor who this week allegedly scratched “Ivan+Hayley 23” on a brick wall of one of the world’s most precious buildings, has been identified, according to Italy’s culture minister.

And after a spate of  Americans trashing Italian heritage sites  last year, some readers will be relieved to know that this time, the suspect isn’t from the US – he’s from the UK.

Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano  tweeted Thursday  that the Carabinieri, a military police force, had “identified the person presumed to be responsible for the uncivilized and absurd act committed at the Colosseum.”

“An act that offended everyone across the globe who appreciate the value of archaeology, of monuments and of history,” he added.

His tweet confirmed that “Ivan and Hayley” are thought to be the names of the tourist and his girlfriend, who were filmed as the man carved their names.

In a second tweet, Sangiuliano suggested the case will go to trial. “I hope that justice will take its course, applying the law rigorously,” he wrote.

“If it comes to trial, the Ministry of Culture will appear as a plaintiff.”

If convicted of a crime, the man could face a fine of at least 15,000 euros ($16,360) or up to five years in prison, according to Italian news agency Ansa.

The Piazza Venezia branch of the Carabinieri released a statement to CNN confirming that the suspect had been traced, and the couple is believed to be from the UK.

Police “identified the main suspect through traditional investigations and photographic comparison,” they wrote.

“The carabinieri have confirmed that it is a couple, a man and a woman,” who live in England.

“It should be noted that proceedings are at the preliminary investigation stage so the suspect must be considered innocent until any final [court] ruling.”

Sangiuliano added in a statement that a government bill that would “make those who outrage our heritage answer for it personally” is currently passing through parliament. The bill would hold vandals responsible “including in terms of assets,” he said.

“People who cause damage must pay.”

Tourists vandalizing the Colosseum is sadly nothing new. In 2020, an Irish tourist was reported to the police for allegedly carving his initials into a wall.

Last August, an American couple was caught carving their initials into the Arch of Augustus, a 2,000-year-old monument beside the Colosseum.

CNN’s Sharon Braithwaite contributed to this story.

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World News | Police: Tourist who defaced Colosseum has been…

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World news | 49ers close nfl draft’s second round with trade, then take defensive back green, subscriber only, world news | police: tourist who defaced colosseum has been identified, the man could face a fine of at least 15,000 euros ($16,360).

By Julia Buckely | CNN

He caused shockwaves around the world when he was filmed apparently carving his name into a wall of Rome’s 2,000-year-old Colosseum – and grinning when he realized he was caught on camera.

Now, he’s likely to be in shock himself.

The visitor who this week allegedly scratched “Ivan+Hayley 23” on a brick wall of one of the world’s most precious buildings, has been identified, according to Italy’s culture minister.

REALTED:  California tourist’s video of man defacing the Colosseum in Rome makes international news

And after a spate of  Americans trashing Italian heritage sites  last year, some readers will be relieved to know that this time, the suspect isn’t from the US – he’s from the UK.

Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano  tweeted Thursday  that the Carabinieri, a military police force, had “identified the person presumed to be responsible for the uncivilized and absurd act committed at the Colosseum.”

“An act that offended everyone across the globe who appreciate the value of archaeology, of monuments and of history,” he added.

His tweet confirmed that “Ivan and Hayley” are thought to be the names of the tourist and his girlfriend, who was filmed watching on as he carved their names.

In a second tweet, Sangiuliano suggested that the case will go to trial.

Threat of prison

“I hope that justice will take its course, applying the law rigorously,” he wrote.

“If it comes to trial, the Ministry of Culture will appear as a plaintiff.”

If convicted of a crime, the man could face a fine of at least 15,000 euros ($16,360) or up to five years in prison, according to Italian news agency Ansa.

The Piazza Venezia branch of the Carabinieri released a statement to CNN confirming that the suspect had been traced, and the couple are believed to be from the UK.

“The carabinieri have confirmed that that it is a couple, a man and a woman, resident in England.

“It should be noted that proceedings are at the preliminary investigation stage so the suspect must be considered innocent until any final [court] ruling.”

Sangiuliano added in a statement that a government bill that would “make those who outrage our heritage answer for it personally” is currently passing through parliament. The bill would hold vandals responsible “including in terms of assets,” he said.

“People who cause damage must pay.”

Tourists vandalizing the Colosseum is sadly nothing new. In 2020, an Irish tourist was reported to the police for allegedly carving his initials into a wall.

Last August, an American couple were caught carving their initials into the Arch of Augustus, a 2,000-year-old monument beside the Colosseum.

CNN’s Sharon Braithwaite contributed to this story.

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Italian authorities say they know the identity of the man caught on video recently etching his and his paramour’s names into the ancient walls of the Colosseum in Rome. Another tourist recorded the man beaming as he hacked the words “Ivan+Hayley 23” into a wall on the iconic, 2000-year-old structure in front of his partner. In a tweet noting that police had identified the culprit as a British tourist, Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano confirmed that the pair are indeed named Ivan and Hayley. Sangiuliano indicated the case would likely go to trial, and called it an “act that offended everyone across the globe who appreciate the value of archaeology, of monuments and of history.” The tourist could face a hefty fine or several years in prison if found guilty.

Anger in Italy as tourist filmed carving names into the Colosseum

Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano says it's a "sign of great incivility".

Tuesday 27 June 2023 06:54, UK

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Italy's culture minister says a tourist who was filmed carving his and his girlfriend's names into the Colosseum in Rome should be "identified and sanctioned".

Gennaro Sangiuliano described the man's actions as "unworthy and a sign of great incivility".

Footage has appeared online of the tourist - dressed in a blue t-shirt and carrying a black rucksack - using a set of keys to make his mark in the building, which is almost 2,000 years old.

With his girlfriend by his side, he inscribes "Ivan + Hayley 23" before turning and smiling at the camera.

Someone can be heard saying: "Serious, man? F***** up, man. Stupid a*******."

Mr Sangiuliano tweeted: "I consider it very serious, unworthy and a sign of great incivility that a tourist defaces one of the most famous places in the world, the Colosseum, to engrave the name of his fiancee.

"I hope that whoever did this will be identified and sanctioned according to our laws."

Should he be caught, the tourist risks a €15,000 (£12,875) fine and could be sent to prison, Italian news agency ANSA said.

Reputo gravissimo, indegno e segno di grande inciviltà, che un turista sfregi uno dei luoghi più celebri al mondo, il Colosseo, per incidere il nome della sua fidanzata. Spero che chi ha compiuto questo gesto venga individuato e sanzionato secondo le nostre leggi. pic.twitter.com/p8Jss1GWuY — Gennaro Sangiuliano (@g_sangiuliano) June 26, 2023

In 2015, two American tourists were accused of carving their initials into the Colosseum .

The women, from California, scratched the letters J and N with a coin, local newspaper Il Messaggero reported.

Afterwards the pair, reported to be 21 and 25, took a selfie.

They were briefly held by Rome's police and questioned.

The year before, a Russian tourist was fined for engraving the letter K into the Colosseum .

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Italian Police Identify Tourist Who Vandalized Rome’s Colosseum

Photo: Shutterstock.com

Italian police have identified the tourist who allegedly vandalized a brick wall on Rome’s Colosseum.

The vandal, who G Adventures was offering a reward to find, can be seen scratching “Ivan+Hayley 23” onto the wall in a video recorded in Rome this week. The video quickly went viral, with calls to identify and arrest the person shouted from around the world, including tour operator G Adventures , which offered its own reward for finding the perp.

On Thursday, the Italian Ministry of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano confirmed that the Carabinieri, a military police force in Italy, had identified the man in the video. Sangiuliano did not publish the man's name, but the Piazza Venezia branch of Carabinieri told CNN that the man and his companion who filmed the video are believed to be a couple from the U.K.

The police also said they identified the couple through “traditional investigations and photographic comparison” and that they remain innocent until proven guilty.

Sangiuliano, for his part, called the vandalism “an act that has offended all those throughout the world who appreciate the value of archaeology, monuments, and history.”  

“Now I hope that justice will take its course by rigorously applying the laws,” Sangiuliano wrote on Thursday. “If it comes to a trial, the Ministry of Culture will appear as a civil party.”

If charged and convicted, the vandal could face a fine of at least 15,000 euros ($16,360 US) or up to five years in prison.

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'Are you serious?' Video shows tourist carve his name into Rome’s Colosseum

O fficials in Italy have vowed to find and punish a person recently filmed carving his name and his significant other's name in the wall of the Colosseum in Rome.

“I consider it very serious, unworthy and a sign of great incivility that a tourist defaces one of the most famous places in the world, a historical heritage (site) such as the Colosseum, to carve the name of his fiancée," the country's culture minister, Gennaro Sangiuliano, tweeted Monday.

“I hope that whoever carried out this act will be identified and sanctioned according to our laws,” he wrote.

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Tourism Minister Daniela Santanche said she hoped the tourist would be sanctioned “so that he understands the gravity of the gesture."

"We cannot allow those who come to visit our nation to feel free to behave in this way," Santanche told Italian news agency Italy 24 .

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What did the person carve?

Video captures the unidentified person using keys to carve the words “Ivan+Haley 23” into the nearly 2,000-year-old amphitheater.

The brief footage posted on YouTube and Reddit shows a man with black hair wearing a blue T-shirt and black backpack standing next to a blonde woman wearing a white skirt and white backpack who appears to be holding a pet leash.

Tourist Ryan Litz, of Orange, California., told the Associated Press he filmed the video. Litz, who is on a two-month backpacking trip through Europe said he was astonished the man defaced "such an important monument."

"I kind of approach him and ask him, dumbfounded at this point, ‘Are you serious? Are you really serious?’" Litz told the outlet. “And all he could do is like smile at me.”

Litz said he posted the video after he told a guard but the officer did not do anything about it, "even after Litz identified the man and offered to share the video."

As of Tuesday afternoon, the video had received more than 100,000 views on several sites and had been picked up by Italian media.

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A hefty fine and possible prison time

The crime is not the first time the historic landmark has been vandalized.

According to the Italian news agency ANSA , the incident marked the fourth time this year graffiti was reported at the Colosseum.

Whoever is responsible for the latest episode faces $15,000 in fines and up to five years in prison. the outlet reported.

Contributing: Associated Press

Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Are you serious?' Video shows tourist carve his name into Rome’s Colosseum