The numerals 8647 faintly etched into the grounds of the National Mall in Washington DC on 11 June. Photograph: Nathan Howard/Reuters
US authorities are investigating a massive etching of the numbers '8647' into the grass of the National Mall. Live webcam footage from atop the Washington Monument shows a highly visible '8', with the other digits appearing fainter.
The number '86' is commonly used in the restaurant industry to indicate something is out of stock or should be removed, while Donald Trump is the 47th president of the United States.
The US Park Police responded to a report of vandalism at approximately 11:30 am on the west lawn of the Washington Monument. The numbers '8647' were marked in the grass. The cause of the discoloration has not yet been determined, and grass samples have been collected for testing. The investigation is ongoing.
A US Department of Interior spokesperson described the incident as 'deranged vandalism' and stated that any threat against the president is taken very seriously. The US Park Police will investigate and hold those responsible accountable.
It remains unclear when or how the numbers were etched into the ground. In April, former FBI director James Comey was charged over an Instagram post depicting seashells arranged in the same numbers on a beach. The Department of Justice charged Comey with two felonies, including making a threat against the president and transmitting that threat across state lines via social media. Comey removed the post and stated he did not associate those numbers with violence, vowing to fight the charges.
The latest incident comes just weeks before the US marks its 250th anniversary with events planned across the National Mall as part of the 'Great American State Fair'. It also follows extensive renovations to the area overseen by Trump, including a $13.1 million makeover of the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool.
