Stolen original Churchill portrait recovered in Italy after being replaced with fake

Ottawa police arrest man linked to theft of iconic 'Roaring Lion' photograph

By Muhammed Enes Calli

ISTANBUL (AA) - An original print of the iconic photograph of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, known as "The Roaring Lion," has been recovered in Italy after being stolen and replaced with a fake, according to a media report on Wednesday.

The 1941 photograph, taken by renowned photographer Yousuf Karsh following Churchill’s wartime speech to Canada’s parliament, was taken from the Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa, Canada.

Police believe the theft occurred between December 25, 2021, and January 6, 2022, during COVID-19 lockdowns, BBC reported.

Hotel staff discovered the forgery in August 2022. On Wednesday, Ottawa police confirmed that the original portrait was found in Genoa, Italy, in the possession of a private buyer who was unaware it had been stolen.

A 43-year-old man from Powassan, Ontario, has been arrested in connection with the theft.

He faces multiple charges, including forgery, theft, trafficking, and property damage.

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