Georgia Guidestones demolished after bombing damages mysterious monument

The Georgia Guidestones were a 19-foot-tall granite monument that served as both a tourist attraction and fodder for conspiracy theories since it was erected by anonymous patrons in 1980.

The monument’s stones are inscribed with what some people interpret as guidelines for future generations and what others see as something more sinister. The monument gets around 20,000 visitors a year.

NewsChopper 2 was over the monument Wednesday, where one of the pillars was reduced to rubble. The news comes after months of escalating conspiracy theories surrounding the monument that have circulated on social media.

[RELATED: What are the Georgia Guidestones? Here is what we know about the mysterious monument]

Several Channel 2 Action News viewers reported hearing sounds of an explosion around 4 a.m.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

In a statement, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said agents found evidence of an explosion at the scene.

“The preliminary information indicates that unknown individuals detonated an explosive device at around 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 6th. Elbert County Sheriff’s Office personnel responded to discover the explosion destroyed a large portion of the structure.”

The Georgia Department of Transportation closed down roads in the area as local and state police investigated.

Channel 2′s Richard Elliot was in Elbert County, where the monument is sometimes referred to as the “American Stonehenge.” Its four slabs and central pillar function like a compass, calendar and clock.

The center pillar is carved in such a way that allows a ray of sun to filter through at noon every day and shine a beam on the center stone that indicates the day of the year.

But the conspiracy theories spark from the monument’s inscriptions, which are carved in eight modern languages and seem to advocate for population control, harmony with nature and internationalism.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Man shot to death in car in busy Publix parking lot near Emory University
• Georgia gas station selling fuel for $1.99 a gallon
• Men arrested for shooting fireworks from car on Interstate, police say

Over the past few months, the monument has become increasingly controversial on social media. Former GOP gubernatorial candidate Kandiss Taylor promised her supporters that if she were elected, she would destroy the “satanic” monument by executive order.

Taylor released a video statement Thursday night, saying she did not support criminal activity would have taken the proper legal steps to remove the monument if she had been elected.

Taylor said she condemned vandalism and that the person who committed the crime should be arrested.

Elliot reached out to Taylor and her campaign website earlier Wednesday for comment, but she didn’t respond.

On Wednesday, investigators kept onlookers back as they swept the area for more explosives.

Elliot talked to Christopher Kubas, who is part of the Elberton Granite Association, which maintains the Georgia Guidestones. Kubas said the monument is nothing but a tourist attraction.

“It’s sad,” Kubas said. “Not just for Elberton and Elbert County, but I’m sad for the United States and the world. These were tourists attractions, and it was not uncommon for people from around the world to be up here at any given time.”

Kubas said he hopes security cameras that were put up years ago caught the bomber.

“If they cameras were up and running, then yes, it goes to the 911 dispatch center,” Kubas said.

It’s unclear if investigators have identified any possible suspects in the explosion or what possible charges they would face.

Though the monument was privately funded, it sits on state-owned land.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS: