Police in Merton have released images of 10 men they are seeking in connection to the smashing of a statue in Wimbledon earlier this year.

As the Wimbledon Times reported previously, the statue of the last Ethiopian Emperor, Haile Selassie, was smashed by a group of people whose identities are not yet confirmed.

The attack on the statue happened around 5.10 pm on June 30.

Yesterday (Tuesday, November 17), Merton Met Police service tweeted images of a number of men they are now seeking in connection to the incident, after reviewing footage of a video that was also shared on Facebook.

In it, a number of men were seemingly seen smashing the statue in question, which was situated in Cannizaro Park.

A spokesperson for Merton Police wrote:

"#WANTED | Police are investigating criminal damage to a statue and to street furniture which occurred on the 30th June 2020 in Wimbledon Village, Merton.

"Ten males are wanted in connection with this incident after being identified on video.

"After a thorough investigation, Detectives are now appealing to the public to help police find these males.

"If you see these individuals or recognize them and have information which could assist police in finding their whereabouts, please call police on 101 with ref 1407526/20."

The damage is believed to be linked to the death of Ethiopian singer, Hachalu Hundessa, 34, who was shot dead in June, a week before the statue was smashed.

His death led to waves of protests in Ethiopia, which saw a statue of Ethiopia's last emperor, destroyed in the city of Harar.

Hachalu Hundessa was known for his political songs that supported the rights of Ethiopia's ethnic Oromo group.

His voice was used in anti-government protests that later led to a change in leadership in 2018.

Haile Selassie was revered by many during the 20th century including most famously by Bob Marley, but his legacy has come under increased scrutiny in recent years, prompting a reassessment.

He is now considered an authoritarian dictator by many academics, who point to his repression of groups within Ethiopia, including the largely Muslim Oromo, where slavery was not abolished until 1942 (he ruled 1930-1974), and his overseeing of a several severe famines in the country.