VIDEO: Selfie-taking Ottoman statue now under police protection

Police have begun to stand guard to protect a much-debated statue of an Ottoman prince taking a selfie with a smart phone in a historic Turkish town.

The bizarre steel statue was erected by the municipality in the Black Sea province of Amasya on May 9. Although it was criticized by some as a tasteless anachronism, it has attracted scores of tourists.

However, on May 10 unidentified assailants broke off the cellphone feature on the statue. The next day, the Ottoman prince's sword was also broken.

After the latest attack on May 11, policemen from Amasya Security Directorate examined the "crime scene." 

A team of police have since started waiting on guard to protect the statue after the municipality filed a criminal complaint, asking the court to identify the attackers.