Georgia Guidestones explosion: DA calls attack ‘domestic terrorism’ as Trump bombing site meme spreads

The hunt is still on in Georgia for the suspects who authorities say damaged the mysterious Guidestones monument in an explosion, which some online conspiracy theorists have called “an act of God”.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) told reporters that preliminary information suggests someone used an explosive device to damage the pillars on Wednesday morning.

A large portion of the structure was damaged and one part was completely destroyed, leading to the full demolition of the granite structure, the GBI said.

In CCTV footage released by authorities on Thursday, a person can be seen running from the scene of the Guidestones during the attack. No suspects have been identified or found however, but the local district attorney has vowed to prosecute what he described as “domestic terrorism” with a possible penalty of 20 years in prison.

Despite being erected in 1980, the Guidestones are sometimes called “America’s Stonehenge” and consist of six granite slabs, each with an inscription in a different language. They have long been the subject of conspiracy theorists.

It is not yet known whether they will be rebuilt.

Key points

• Georgia landmark damaged as explosion heard in early hours

• Trump meme appeared online in days and weeks before attack

• ‘America’s Stonehenge’ built as calendar inscribed with guidelines for humanity

• Monument has fed into wild conspiracy theories and been called Satanic

• Authorities forced to demolish remainder of monument for safety reasons

• Footage released of suspect in Georgia Guidestones bomb attack

• DA says he will prosecute ‘domestic terrorism’ attack

‘America’s Stonehenge’ damaged in apparent explosion

Wednesday 6 July 2022 18:07 , Oliver O'Connell

The mysterious Georgia Guidestones have sustained significant damage after residents reported hearing a thunderous explosion near their location.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations told reporters that preliminary information suggests someone used an explosive device to damage the pillars.

Georgia Guidestones: ‘America’s Stonehenge’ damaged in apparent explosion

How the Guidestones looked before

Wednesday 6 July 2022 18:10 , Oliver O'Connell

What are the Georgia Guidestones?

Wednesday 6 July 2022 18:20 , Oliver O'Connell

The Georgia Guidestones are a granite monument in Elbert County, Georgia. They are located off of Guidestone Road just east of state Highway 77.

Chris Kubas, executive vice president of the Elberton Granite Association, which has a role in maintaining the Guidestones, told Fox 5 he was saddened by the destruction of part of the monument.

“I’m sad not just for Elberton and Elbert County, I’m sad for the United States and the world,” Mr Kubas said. “These were a tourist attraction, and it was not uncommon for people around the world to be up here at any given time.”

The monument’s purpose is somewhat ambiguous. Allegedly commissioned by a person under the name RC Christian in 1980, the roadside attraction became known as “America's Stonehenge” for its mysterious origins and monolithic nature.

At 19 feet high, each stone block weighs about 42,000 pounds. It serves as a calendar, like its namesake in England, and is inscribed with a 10-part message in eight different languages. The messages are “guidelines” for humanity.

“They were meant for a future population after a cataclysmic event,” Mr Kubas said.

Elberton is locally known as “the Granite Capital of the World” and the stones were locally-mined.

“To quarry something of that size and get those four of them that precise … with the sandblasting it took to letter those languages, that is utter craftsmanship that you wouldn’t find anywhere else,” Mr Kubas said.

What does the inscription on the stones say?

Wednesday 6 July 2022 18:32 , Oliver O'Connell

Written in eight different languages, the stones relay a ten-part message:

1. Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.

2. Guide reproduction wisely — improving fitness and diversity.

3. Unite humanity with a living new language.

4. Rule passion — faith — tradition — and all things with tempered reason.

5. Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.

6. Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.

7. Avoid petty laws and useless officials.

8. Balance personal rights with social duties.

9. Prize truth — beauty — love — seeking harmony with the infinite.

10. Be not a cancer on the Earth — Leave room for nature — Leave room for nature.

Aerial footage shows damage to landmark

Wednesday 6 July 2022 18:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Guidestones subject to wild conspiracy theories

Wednesday 6 July 2022 19:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The inscriptions on the stones have fed into wild conspiracy theories regarding population control, a new world order, vaccines, and human sacrifice among others.

Georgia gubernatorial candidate Kandiss Taylor has gone as far as declaring that she would have the Guidestones demolished as the only candidate willing to stand up to the “Luciferian Cabal”.

This morning she went on to claim that the landmark had been struck down by god.

GBI confirms explosive device used

Wednesday 6 July 2022 19:09 , Oliver O'Connell

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirms the Georgia Guidestones monument near Elberton was damaged by an explosive device.

GBI says the bomb appears to have gone off around 4 am, with sheriff’s deputies responding to discover the damage. Some residents told local news outlets they heard an explosion at that time.

Elbert County sheriff’s deputies, Elberton police and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation were among the agencies trying to figure out what happened.

The monument had previously been vandalised.

Reporting by The Associated Press

What we know so far

Wednesday 6 July 2022 19:27 , Oliver O'Connell

Graig Graziosi has the latest developments from Georgia:

Georgia Guidestones: ‘America’s Stonehenge’ damaged in apparent explosion

The supposed intended interpretation

Wednesday 6 July 2022 20:01 , Oliver O'Connell

Given their mysterious origins, the intended meaning or purpose of the Guidestones is somewhat vague.

One interpretation is that they describe the basic concepts required to rebuild a devastated civilization after a nuclear war. This is believed to have been the case given that they were built at the height of the Cold War in 1980.

One inscription reads, “Let these be guidestones to an Age of Reason”, presumably the hope for a post-apocalyptic recovery.

The most contraversial engraving for conspiracy theorists is the suggestion to keep humanity's population below 500 million. Those who believe the intention was for a post-war world say that this is through the assumption that any was would have reduced the world’s population below this already.

Astronomic features mimic the ways in which Stonehenge in the UK lines up with the sun throughout the year, perhaps to ensure time could still be measured after an apocalyptic event.

A time capsule was also intended to be buried at the site, but blank spaces in the inscription appear to indicate it was not.

Elbert Chamber of Commerce ‘saddened’ by incident

Wednesday 6 July 2022 20:20 , Oliver O'Connell

The Elbert County Chamber of Commerce was saddened to learn of the apparent intentional destruction of our most frequently visited community attraction, the Georgia Guidestones. Over the years, the Guidestones have created lots of discussion and brought visitors to Elbert County from all over the world. Whatever your personal opinion on the Guidestones is, this attack is bad for our community. We hope that whomever is responsible is apprehended and brought to justice.

Watch: ‘Last Week Tonight’ covers Georgia Guidestones

Wednesday 6 July 2022 20:43 , Oliver O'Connell

In his inimitable style, on his HBO show Last Week Tonight, John Oliver took a look at Kandiss Taylor, the Georgia Guidestones, who may have actually commissioned them, and what their supposed message may actually be...

Watch below from the 8.30 mark:

A focal point of conspiracy theorists

Wednesday 6 July 2022 21:03 , Oliver O'Connell

The monument has become the focal point of conservative conspiracy theories over the last years, with allegations that the message on the slabs are instructions for the coming “new world order.”

Kandiss Taylor, a far-right conspiracy theorist who ran in the state’s Republican gubernatorial primary against incumbent Brian Kemp, made the destruction of the guidestones a central pillar of her campaign.

In a glossy campaign video, she announced her “executive order 10,” which would see the monument demolished.

Throughout the video she nods to other conservative talking points and conspiracy theories.

The video starts with a reference to a Covid-19 vaccine conspiracy, with Ms Taylor saying “over four million people got injected with something that took only nine months to create. Ask yourself why.”

It then moves onto demonic human sacrifice.

“Human sacrifice was a form of demonic worship, we’re still doing it in present day by killing our unborn,” she says, while a graphic about the number of abortions performed worldwide splashes across the screen. “It’s the same demons, the same sacrifice, the same sin, it’s just a different time.”

Then she shifts focus to the “new world order” and the insinuation that the Georgia Guidestones are a message from the demon-worshipping elite who secretly rule the world as to their plans.

“The new world order is here and they told us it was coming,” she says.

Shortly after news broke that the stones had been damaged, rather than denouncing the destruction of private property by a protester — which is standard for most Republicans — she suggested that God struck down one of the stones.

GBI asks public for information

Wednesday 6 July 2022 21:40 , Oliver O'Connell

What we know so far about the attack on the Georgia Guidestones

Wednesday 6 July 2022 22:16 , Oliver O'Connell

Graig Graziosi has the latest developments from Georgia:

Georgia Guidestones: ‘America’s Stonehenge’ damaged in bomb attack

Explainer: What are the Georgia Guidestones?

Wednesday 6 July 2022 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The Georgia Guidestones is a group of stones forming a granite monument in Elbert County, Georgia, about 90 miles east of Atlanta, 45 miles from Athens, and seven miles from the town of Elberton, locally known as “the Granite Capital of the World”.

Learn more about the bizarre history of the landmark:

What are the Georgia Guidestones and where did they come from?

Remainder of monument demolished

Wednesday 6 July 2022 23:08 , Oliver O'Connell

Via 11Alive:

11Alive’s Dawn White reported from the scene in Elbert County in the evening that crews had gone in to level the remaining standing parts of the Guidestones.

Video from the scene showed construction equipment and the stone blocks in a rubble heap.

Remaining pillars toppled for safety reasons

Wednesday 6 July 2022 23:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Elbert County officials made the decision to take down the remainder of the monument for safety reasons.

CCTV captures Georgia Guidestones bomb attack

Wednesday 6 July 2022 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Dramatic footage captured the moment the guidestones were struck by an explosive device at around 4am on Wednesday morning.

CCTV captures Georgia Guidestones bomb attack as authorities forced to level monument

GBI releases CCTV footage

Thursday 7 July 2022 00:23 , Oliver O'Connell

How the Georgia Guidestones became a ‘demonic’ conservative obsession

Thursday 7 July 2022 01:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The mysterious Georgia Guidestones, sometimes called America’s Stonehenge, were damaged in an apparent bomb attack, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said.

The monument, which was targeted in the early hours of Wednesday morning, consists of six massive granite slabs, onto which are inscribed a list of 10 instructions for the conservation of humanity in the event of an apocalyptic event.

The guidestones were erected in 1980 and have stood as an oddity in a field in Elberton, Georgia ever since. The GBI has confirmed that the destruction of one of the slabs was most likely the result of an explosive device.

But why would someone try to blow up an apparently innocuous monument?

Graig Graziosi reports.

How the Georgia Guidestones became a ‘demonic’ conservative obsession

Elbert Chamber of Commerce ‘saddened’ by incident

Thursday 7 July 2022 02:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The Elbert County Chamber of Commerce was saddened to learn of the apparent intentional destruction of our most frequently visited community attraction, the Georgia Guidestones. Over the years, the Guidestones have created lots of discussion and brought visitors to Elbert County from all over the world. Whatever your personal opinion on the Guidestones is, this attack is bad for our community. We hope that whomever is responsible is apprehended and brought to justice.

Watch: ‘Last Week Tonight’ covers Georgia Guidestones

Thursday 7 July 2022 03:00 , Oliver O'Connell

In his inimitable style, on his HBO show Last Week Tonight, John Oliver took a look at Kandiss Taylor, the Georgia Guidestones, who may have actually commissioned them, and what their supposed message may actually be...

Watch below from the 8.30 mark:

CCTV footage shows car near site before explosion

Thursday 7 July 2022 04:00 , Oliver O'Connell

In footage released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, a car is seen near the monument shortly after the explosion.

Remaining monument levelled after explosion

Thursday 7 July 2022 04:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Authorities have levelled the Georgia Guidestones after the landmark was badly damaged in a possible bombing attack.

Hours later, the demolition crews brought down the giant granite slabs that were still standing.

Senator Wendy Rogers calls Guidestones ‘evil and satanic’

Thursday 7 July 2022 05:27 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Republican senator Wendy Rogers, while calling the Guidestones “evil and satanic”, said she is “glad” to see the authorities tearing it down following an explosion that partially damaged the pillars.

“We only support and worship the one true god, not an imposter and the father of all lies.”

Explainer: What are the Georgia Guidestones?

Thursday 7 July 2022 05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The Georgia Guidestones is a group of stones forming a granite monument in Elbert County, Georgia, about 90 miles east of Atlanta, 45 miles from Athens, and seven miles from the town of Elberton, locally known as “the Granite Capital of the World”.

Learn more about the bizarre history of the landmark:

What are the Georgia Guidestones and where did they come from?

Remaining pillars toppled for safety reasons

Thursday 7 July 2022 07:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Elbert County officials made the decision to take down the remainder of the monument for safety reasons.

How the Georgia Guidestones became a ‘demonic’ conservative obsession

Thursday 7 July 2022 09:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The mysterious Georgia Guidestones, sometimes called America’s Stonehenge, were damaged in an apparent bomb attack, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said.

The monument, which was targeted in the early hours of Wednesday morning, consists of six massive granite slabs, onto which are inscribed a list of 10 instructions for the conservation of humanity in the event of an apocalyptic event.

The guidestones were erected in 1980 and have stood as an oddity in a field in Elberton, Georgia ever since. The GBI has confirmed that the destruction of one of the slabs was most likely the result of an explosive device.

But why would someone try to blow up an apparently innocuous monument?

Graig Graziosi reports.

How the Georgia Guidestones became a ‘demonic’ conservative obsession

What we know so far about the attack on the Georgia Guidestones

Thursday 7 July 2022 10:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Graig Graziosi has the latest developments from Georgia:

Georgia Guidestones: ‘America’s Stonehenge’ damaged in bomb attack

GBI appeals to public for information on explosion

Thursday 7 July 2022 12:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Explainer: What are the Georgia Guidestones?

Thursday 7 July 2022 13:30 , Oliver O'Connell

The Georgia Guidestones is a group of stones forming a granite monument in Elbert County, Georgia, about 90 miles east of Atlanta, 45 miles from Athens, and seven miles from the town of Elberton, locally known as “the Granite Capital of the World”.

Learn more about the bizarre history of the landmark:

What are the Georgia Guidestones and where did they come from?

CCTV footage shows car near site before explosion

Thursday 7 July 2022 14:00 , Oliver O'Connell

In footage released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, a car is seen near the monument shortly after the explosion.

Authorities forced to level entire monument after explosion

Thursday 7 July 2022 14:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Authorities have levelled the Georgia Guidestones after the landmark was badly damaged in a bombing attack.

Dramatic footage captured the moment the guidestones were struck by an explosive device at around 4am on Wednesday morning.

Hours later, demolition crews brought down the giant granite slabs that were still standing, 11Alive reported.

Bevan Hurley reports.

CCTV captures Georgia Guidestones bomb attack as authorities forced to level monument

Why are the stones considered ‘satanic’?

Thursday 7 July 2022 15:00 , Gino Spocchia

The Georgia Guidestones were erected in 1980 in a field in Elberton, Georgia, and have been a source of conspiracy theories ever since.

Opposition to the stones began almost as soon as they were unveiled, with a local pastor circulating the theory that the stones were built for cult and devil worship based on its similar appearance to Stonehenge.

Conservative Christians sometimes link pagan ritual sites to demonic worship, wrapping all animist religions under the umbrella of “demonic” or “satanic”.

Griag Graziosi has more:

How the Georgia Guidestones became a ‘demonic’ conservative obsession

Unknown origins of monument ‘helped’ fuel conspiracies

Thursday 7 July 2022 15:30 , Gino Spocchia

Katie McCarthy, a conspiracy theory researcher for the Anti-Defamation League, said in an interview with NPR that the anyonomity of the person or group who commissioned the Georgia Guidestones has also contributed to wild claims about the granite structure.

“That’s given the guidestones a sort of shroud of mystery around them, because the identity and intent of the individuals who commissioned them is unknown,” she said after the monument was damaged, and demolished.

“And so that has helped over the years to fuel a lot of speculation and conspiracy theories about the guidestones’ true intent.”

Built in 1980 by a person or group under the pseudonym R.C. Christian, the monument contain inscpritons about humanity, civilisation and other “lessons”. It also acts as a sundial and clock.

Online videos propel lightning ‘act of God’ claims

Thursday 7 July 2022 16:00 , Gino Spocchia

Online, known conspiracy theorists have shared their own beliefs about how the Georgia Guidestones monument was damaged, in what authorities have labelled an explosion.

At least one YouTube video seen by The Independent suggested the explosion was “an act of God” rather than an act of vandalism because of the partial damage sustained by the granite structure.

Those people have blamed lightning, in apparent dismissal of what authorities have found and CCTV video showing a vehicle leaving the location shortly after the explosion.

State authorities continue to search the suspect or suspects.

Message on stones are ‘instructions’ for humanity

Thursday 7 July 2022 16:30 , Gino Spocchia

Many have claimed the messages on the slabs are instructions for the coming “new world order”.

The executive vice president of the association responsible for up keeping the monument has said the inscriptions on the panels were instructions “meant for a future population after a cataclysmic event”.

That included limiting the world population to 500 million, “guiding reproduction wisely”, and uniting “humanity with a living new language”.

Oliver O’Conell reports

What are the Georgia Guidestones and where did they come from?

Local chamber of commerce ‘saddened’ by destruction

Thursday 7 July 2022 17:00 , Gino Spocchia

The Elbert Chamber of Commerce has said it was “saddened” by the apparent attack on the Georgia Guidestones, which was both a local landmark and a popular tourist spot.

“The Elbert County Chamber of Commerce was saddened to learn of the apparent intentional destruction of our most frequently visited community attraction, the Georgia Guidestones,” the group said.

“Over the years, the Guidestones have created lots of discussion and brought visitors to Elbert County from all over the world. Whatever your personal opinion on the Guidestones is, this attack is bad for our community. We hope that whomever is responsible is apprehended and brought to justice.”

GOP candidate pushes conspiracy about monument

Thursday 7 July 2022 17:30 , Gino Spocchia

Two months before the attack on the Georgia Guidestones, the monument became a focus of a local GOP gubernatorial hopeful, Kandiss Taylor.

Ms Taylor called for the demolition of the monument in a campaign video, while also echoing other conspiracy theories such as former president Donald Trump‘s 2020 election lie.

On Wednesday, she said the stones were “satanic” and welcomed their demoliton on an apparent ‘act of God’.

Here’s that tweet:

Stone conspiracies featured on ‘Last Week Tonight'

Thursday 7 July 2022 18:00 , Gino Spocchia

In a segment on the Georgia Guidestones on HBO’s Last Week Tonight, comedian John Oliver discussed the claims aired by GOP gubernatorial candidate Kandiss Taylor during her campaign.

The segment referred to claims about the person behind the monument and white supremacism.

When was monument last attacked?

Thursday 7 July 2022 18:30 , Gino Spocchia

The attack was not the first time the Georgia Guidestones had been targetted.

In November 2008, the stones were attacked by vandals and spray-painted with tags including “Jesus will beat u satanist” and “No one-world government.”

Who built the stones?

Thursday 7 July 2022 19:00 , Gino Spocchia

The owners of Elberton Granite Finishing Company, which was commissioned to build the slabs, said an anonymous man approached them with a plan to build the monument in 1979.

That individual claimed the monument was meant to act as a compass, calendar and clock that could withstand catastrophic events.

The company claims it tried to discourage the man from pursuing the project by offering a comically inflated price for the project, but were surprised to find the individual accepted the quote.

In 1980, the monument was completed and suspicion about who was behind the structure has lasted ever since.

Guidestones have been demolished after attack

Thursday 7 July 2022 19:30 , Gino Spocchia

The Georgia Guidestones have now been demolished following the alleged explosion on Wednesday, which damaged part of the monument.

Authorities are still yet to identify suspects and have appealed for anybody with information to come forward.

Bevan Hurley has more:

CCTV captures Georgia Guidestones bomb attack as authorities forced to level monument

GOP candidate says ‘vandalism is illegal’

Thursday 7 July 2022 20:00 , Gino Spocchia

Responding to reports of her criticism and claims about the Georgia Guidestones, GOP gubernatorial candidate Kandiss Taylor said in a video on Wednesday that she wanted the monument to be demolished without any vandalism.

“I believe vandalism is illegal and sometimes, people like to call vandalism instead of actually giving God credit because they don’t know how to explain what happens when God moves,” Ms Taylor said.

She continued by saying that she still believed the damage to the stones – which she has labelled as “satanic” – was an ‘act of God’.

“So, until I see a video that shows me anything than what looked like lightning or the hand of God moving on a situation, I’m going to believe it was God.”

Some of the conspiracy theories about the stones...

Thursday 7 July 2022 20:30 , Gino Spocchia

As well as being viewed as an “act of God”, the demolition of the roadside granite monument has also seen followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory point to their allegedly “satanic” nature.

One man, posting on Twitter, pointed out that the guidestones were “exactly 666.78 miles from the UN Headquarters in NYC” before adding “This is NOT a coincidence”.

Alex Jones, a more well known conspiracy theorist, meanwhile said seeing the stones destroyed made him happy on an “animal level,” although he ultimately disagreed with their destruction, as he believes they must stand as a reminder that the Illuminati is out there pulling strings.

“We need that evil edifice there as a confession letter led by a consortium of eugenicists,” he said.

Graig Graziosi has more:

How the Georgia Guidestones became a ‘demonic’ conservative obsession

GBI appeals for public help

Thursday 7 July 2022 21:00 , Gino Spocchia

Georgia’s investigation bureau contines to seek any infromation on the destruction of the stones:

Unknown origins of monument ‘helped’ fuel conspiracies

Thursday 7 July 2022 21:30 , Gino Spocchia

Katie McCarthy, a conspiracy theory researcher for the Anti-Defamation League, said in an interview with NPR that the anyonomity of the person or group who commissioned the Georgia Guidestones has also contributed to wild claims about the granite structure.

“That’s given the guidestones a sort of shroud of mystery around them, because the identity and intent of the individuals who commissioned them is unknown,” she said after the monument was damaged, and demolished.

“And so that has helped over the years to fuel a lot of speculation and conspiracy theories about the guidestones’ true intent.”

Built in 1980 by a person or group under the pseudonym R.C. Christian, the monument contain inscpritons about humanity, civilisation and other “lessons”. It also acts as a sundial and clock.

Community will decide if to restore monument

Thursday 7 July 2022 22:00 , Gino Spocchia

Chris Kubas, the vice president of the Elbert Granite Association which has responsibility for the stone monument, has said local officials and community leaders will have to work out if the Guidestones are restored.

The community will also have to consider who would repay for their reconstruction, should that happen.

“If you didn’t like it, you didn’t have to come see it and read it,” Mr Kubas said to NPR. “But unfortunately, somebody decided they didn’t want anyone to read it.”

Remaining pillars were toppled for safety reasons

Thursday 7 July 2022 23:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Elbert County officials made the decision to take down the remainder of the monument for safety reasons.

How the Georgia Guidestones became a ‘demonic’ conservative obsession

Friday 8 July 2022 00:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The mysterious Georgia Guidestones, sometimes called America’s Stonehenge, were damaged in an apparent bomb attack, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said.

The monument, which was targeted in the early hours of Wednesday morning, consists of six massive granite slabs, onto which are inscribed a list of 10 instructions for the conservation of humanity in the event of an apocalyptic event.

The Guidestones were erected in 1980 and have stood as an oddity in a field in Elberton, Georgia ever since. The GBI has confirmed that the destruction of one of the slabs was most likely the result of an explosive device.

But why would someone try to blow up an apparently innocuous monument?

Graig Graziosi reports.

How the Georgia Guidestones became a ‘demonic’ conservative obsession

What we know so far about the attack on the Georgia Guidestones

Friday 8 July 2022 01:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Graig Graziosi has the latest developments from Georgia:

Georgia Guidestones: ‘America’s Stonehenge’ bulldozed after bomb attack

Stone conspiracies featured on ‘Last Week Tonight’

Friday 8 July 2022 02:00 , Oliver O'Connell

In a segment on the Georgia Guidestones on HBO’s Last Week Tonight, comedian John Oliver discussed the claims aired by GOP gubernatorial candidate Kandiss Taylor during her campaign.

The segment referred to claims about the person behind the monument and white supremacism.

Explainer: What are the Georgia Guidestones?

Friday 8 July 2022 03:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The Georgia Guidestones is a group of stones forming a granite monument in Elbert County, Georgia, about 90 miles east of Atlanta, 45 miles from Athens, and seven miles from the town of Elberton, locally known as “the Granite Capital of the World”.

Learn more about the bizarre history of the landmark:

What are the Georgia Guidestones and where did they come from?

CCTV captures a person leaving explosive device

Friday 8 July 2022 04:50 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

A new video released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation shows a person leaving an explosive device at the Georgia Guidestones.

“The video is unclear, but agents are still actively working to identify the person leaving the scene after the explosion,” the authorities said.

Authorities forced to level entire monument after explosion

Friday 8 July 2022 05:01 , Oliver O'Connell

Authorities have levelled the Georgia Guidestones after the landmark was badly damaged in a bombing attack.

Dramatic footage captured the moment the guidestones were struck by an explosive device at around 4am on Wednesday morning.

Hours later, demolition crews brought down the giant granite slabs that were still standing, 11Alive reported.

Bevan Hurley reports.

CCTV captures Georgia Guidestones bomb attack as authorities forced to level monument

Unknown origins of monument ‘helped’ fuel conspiracies

Friday 8 July 2022 07:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Katie McCarthy, a conspiracy theory researcher for the Anti-Defamation League, said in an interview with NPR that the anyonomity of the person or group who commissioned the Georgia Guidestones has also contributed to wild claims about the granite structure.

“That’s given the guidestones a sort of shroud of mystery around them, because the identity and intent of the individuals who commissioned them is unknown,” she said after the monument was damaged, and demolished.

“And so that has helped over the years to fuel a lot of speculation and conspiracy theories about the guidestones’ true intent.”

Built in 1980 by a person or group under the pseudonym R.C. Christian, the monument contain inscpritons about humanity, civilisation and other “lessons”. It also acts as a sundial and clock.

Online videos propel lightning ‘act of God’ claims

Friday 8 July 2022 09:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Online, known conspiracy theorists have shared their own beliefs about how the Georgia Guidestones monument was damaged, in what authorities have labelled an explosion.

At least one YouTube video seen by The Independent suggested the explosion was “an act of God” rather than an act of vandalism because of the partial damage sustained by the granite structure.

Those people have blamed lightning, in an apparent dismissal of what authorities have found and CCTV video showing a vehicle leaving the location shortly after the explosion.

State authorities continue to search for a suspect or suspects.

Message on stones are ‘instructions’ for humanity

Friday 8 July 2022 11:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Many have claimed the messages on the slabs are instructions for the coming “new world order”.

The executive vice president of the association responsible for up keeping the monument has said the inscriptions on the panels were instructions “meant for a future population after a cataclysmic event”.

That included limiting the world population to 500 million, “guiding reproduction wisely”, and uniting “humanity with a living new language”.

Oliver O’Connell reports

What are the Georgia Guidestones and where did they come from?

Local chamber of commerce ‘saddened’ by destruction

Friday 8 July 2022 12:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The Elbert Chamber of Commerce has said it was “saddened” by the apparent attack on the Georgia Guidestones, which was both a local landmark and a popular tourist spot.

“The Elbert County Chamber of Commerce was saddened to learn of the apparent intentional destruction of our most frequently visited community attraction, the Georgia Guidestones,” the group said.

“Over the years, the Guidestones have created lots of discussion and brought visitors to Elbert County from all over the world. Whatever your personal opinion on the Guidestones is, this attack is bad for our community. We hope that whomever is responsible is apprehended and brought to justice.”

Chris Kubas, the vice president of the Elbert Granite Association which has responsibility for the stone monument, has said local officials and community leaders will have to work out if the Guidestones are restored.

The community will also have to consider who would repay for their reconstruction, should that happen.

“If you didn’t like it, you didn’t have to come see it and read it,” Mr Kubas said to NPR. “But unfortunately, somebody decided they didn’t want anyone to read it.”

GOP candidate pushes conspiracy about monument

Friday 8 July 2022 12:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Two months before the attack on the Georgia Guidestones, the monument became a focus of a local GOP gubernatorial hopeful, Kandiss Taylor.

Ms Taylor called for the demolition of the monument in a campaign video, while also echoing other conspiracy theories such as former president Donald Trump‘s 2020 election lie.

On Wednesday, she said the stones were “satanic” and welcomed their demoliton on an apparent ‘act of God’.

Here’s that tweet:

Trump meme appeared before attack on Guidestones

Friday 8 July 2022 13:06 , Gino Spocchia

Four days before the attack on the Georgia Guidestones, a meme showing former US president Donald Trump ‘bombing’ the monument reportedly appeared on Truth Social, his own social media platform.

The photoshopped image featuring Mr Trump appeared on Truth Social on 2 July – after it had already been shared on Twitter in the weeks before, the DailyDot found.

The meme is believed to have been associated with calls by Kandiss Taylor, a Trump-backed GOP candidate, to demolish the stones. She has said she does not support any vandalism however.

Here’s that meme:

Video shows possible Guidestones attack suspect

Friday 8 July 2022 13:40 , Gino Spocchia

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has released new video of the attack on the Guidestones monument.

In footage shared by the agency on Thursday, a person can be seen running from the 19-foot granite structure after “leaving an explosive device at the Georgia Guidestones”, the GBI said.

“The video is unclear, but agents are still actively working to identify the person leaving the scene after the explosion”, the agency added.

Footage of suspect in Georgia Guidestones bomb attack released

Friday 8 July 2022 14:13 , Oliver O'Connell

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has released the first images of what could be the suspect from the attack on the state’s Guidestones monument.

Releasing the CCTV footage on Thursday, the agency said the video showed a person running towards the 19-foot stone structure and running away after leaving an “explosive device” on early Wednesday morning.

Gino Spocchia reports.

First image emerges of suspect in Georgia Guidestones bomb attack

GOP candidate says ‘vandalism is illegal’ gives God credit

Friday 8 July 2022 14:38 , Oliver O'Connell

Responding to reports of her criticism and claims about the Georgia Guidestones, GOP gubernatorial candidate Kandiss Taylor said in a video on Wednesday that she wanted the monument to be demolished without any vandalism.

“I believe vandalism is illegal and sometimes, people like to call vandalism instead of actually giving God credit because they don’t know how to explain what happens when God moves,” Ms Taylor said.

She continued by saying that she still believed the damage to the stones – which she has labelled as “satanic” – was an ‘act of God’.

“So, until I see a video that shows me anything than what looked like lightning or the hand of God moving on a situation, I’m going to believe it was God.”

Meaning of Stones woven into bizarre conspiracy theories

Friday 8 July 2022 15:00 , Gino Spocchia

As well as being viewed as an “act of God”, the demolition of the roadside granite monument has also seen followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory point to their allegedly “satanic” nature.

One man, posting on Twitter, pointed out that the Guidestones were “exactly 666.78 miles from the UN Headquarters in NYC” before adding “This is NOT a coincidence”.

Alex Jones, a more well-known conspiracy theorist, meanwhile said seeing the stones destroyed made him happy on an “animal level,” although he ultimately disagreed with their destruction, as he believes they must stand as a reminder that the Illuminati is out there pulling strings.

“We need that evil edifice there as a confession letter led by a consortium of eugenicists,” he said.

Graig Graziosi has more:

How the Georgia Guidestones became a ‘demonic’ conservative obsession

Memes showing Trump ‘bombing’ Georgia Guidestones appeared on Truth Social days before attack

Friday 8 July 2022 15:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Memes showing former President Donald Trump “bombing” the Georgia Guidestones appeared on his own social media platform days before the monument was attacked, a report says.

The photoshopped image featuring Mr Trump cropped up on Truth Social on 2 July – four days before the mysterious 19-foot granite monument was damaged in an explosion.

Gino Spocchia reports.

Memes showing Trump ‘bombing’ Georgia Guidestones appeared online days before attack

DA says he will prosecute and responsible party faces possible 20-year prison term

Friday 8 July 2022 16:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The Athens Banner-Herald reports:

Northern Circuit District Attorney Parks White said on Thursday that he intends to prosecute whoever used an explosive to destroy the Georgia Guidestones — an act he described as “domestic terrorism”.

While no suspects have yet been identified, Mr White said the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has “many leads” in the bombing that occurred at about 4am on Wednesday at the Elbert County monument.

The GBI released a segment of security-camera video at the site that shows the explosion and a silver sedan leaving the scene. Mr White has viewed other segments of the video and he described the power of the explosion as “terrifying”.

“The power of this device they detonated was enormous,” he said.

Mr White released a full statement via his Facebook page:

Regardless of your feelings about the origin of the Guide Stones, their meaning, or the intention of the person who commissioned and erected them, they are a historical landmark, and this destructive act was an assault upon our community. Detonating a massive explosive device capable of shattering a granite tablet in an area surrounded by residences is a criminal act which placed many people in peril of serious injury. The perpetrator of this act will be found and prosecuted.

The Official Code of Georgia Annotated section 16-7-88 proscribes using explosive devices to destroy public buildings. The Guide Stones are officially owned by the governing authority of Elbert County, and any structure open to the public and owned by a subdivision of the state is considered a public building.

The penalty for destroying any public building by explosive is a minimum of 20 years in prison without the possibility of parole.

The GBI already has many leads, and the case is being made against the perpetrator. If you have any information that could further this investigation, please contact the Georgia Bureau of investigation, Region 11, at 706-552-2309.

The District Attorney’s Office thanks anyone willing to come forward and help successfully prosecute this act of domestic terrorism.

Stone conspiracies featured on ‘Last Week Tonight’

Friday 8 July 2022 16:30 , Oliver O'Connell

In a segment on the Georgia Guidestones on HBO’s Last Week Tonight, comedian John Oliver discussed the claims aired by GOP gubernatorial candidate Kandiss Taylor during her campaign.

The segment referred to claims about the person behind the monument and white supremacism.

Online videos propel lightning ‘act of God’ claims

Friday 8 July 2022 17:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Online, known conspiracy theorists have shared their own beliefs about how the Georgia Guidestones monument was damaged, in what authorities have labelled an explosion.

At least one YouTube video seen by The Independent suggested the explosion was “an act of God” rather than an act of vandalism because of the partial damage sustained by the granite structure.

Those people have blamed lightning, in an apparent dismissal of what authorities have found and CCTV video showing a vehicle leaving the location shortly after the explosion.

State authorities continue to search for a suspect or suspects.

Message on stones are ‘instructions’ for humanity

Friday 8 July 2022 17:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Many have claimed the messages on the slabs are instructions for the coming “new world order”.

The executive vice president of the association responsible for up keeping the monument has said the inscriptions on the panels were instructions “meant for a future population after a cataclysmic event”.

That included limiting the world population to 500 million, “guiding reproduction wisely”, and uniting “humanity with a living new language”.

Oliver O’Connell reports:

What are the Georgia Guidestones and where did they come from?

Friday 8 July 2022 18:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump, who backed a GOP gubernatorial candidate in Georgia who called for the Guidestones’ destruction, is depicted in a meme holding a stack of dynamite.

One version of the meme shared on Truth Social days before Wednesday’s attack features the words: “Ready?”

No suspect has been identified or located and an investigation is ongoing.

Memes showing Trump ‘bombing’ Georgia Guidestones appeared online days before attack

What did the inscription on the stones say?

Friday 8 July 2022 19:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Written in eight different languages, the stones relayed a ten-part message, purportedly to be instructions for mankind after a cataclysmic event, assumed to be a nuclear war given they were built in 1980.

Then 10 guidelines are:

1. Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.

2. Guide reproduction wisely — improving fitness and diversity.

3. Unite humanity with a living new language.

4. Rule passion — faith — tradition — and all things with tempered reason.

5. Protect people and nations with fair laws and just courts.

6. Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.

7. Avoid petty laws and useless officials.

8. Balance personal rights with social duties.

9. Prize truth — beauty — love — seeking harmony with the infinite.

10. Be not a cancer on the Earth — Leave room for nature — Leave room for nature.

GBI releases image of destroyed landmark

Friday 8 July 2022 20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Explainer: What are the Georgia Guidestones?

Friday 8 July 2022 21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The Georgia Guidestones is a group of stones forming a granite monument in Elbert County, Georgia, about 90 miles east of Atlanta, 45 miles from Athens, and seven miles from the town of Elberton, locally known as “the Granite Capital of the World”.

Learn more about the bizarre history of the landmark:

What are the Georgia Guidestones and where did they come from?

Authorities forced to level entire monument after explosion

Friday 8 July 2022 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Authorities have levelled the Georgia Guidestones after the landmark was badly damaged in a bombing attack.

Dramatic footage captured the moment the guidestones were struck by an explosive device at around 4am on Wednesday morning.

Hours later, demolition crews brought down the giant granite slabs that were still standing, 11Alive reported.

Bevan Hurley reports.

CCTV captures Georgia Guidestones bomb attack as authorities forced to level monument

CCTV captures a person leaving explosive device

Friday 8 July 2022 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

A new video released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation shows a person leaving an explosive device at the Georgia Guidestones.

“The video is unclear, but agents are still actively working to identify the person leaving the scene after the explosion,” the authorities said.

Stone conspiracies featured on ‘Last Week Tonight’

Saturday 9 July 2022 00:15 , Oliver O'Connell

In a segment on the Georgia Guidestones on HBO’s Last Week Tonight, comedian John Oliver discussed the claims aired by GOP gubernatorial candidate Kandiss Taylor during her campaign.

The segment referred to claims about the person behind the monument and white supremacism.

Unknown origins of monument ‘helped’ fuel conspiracies

01:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Katie McCarthy, a conspiracy theory researcher for the Anti-Defamation League, said in an interview with NPR that the anyonomity of the person or group who commissioned the Georgia Guidestones has also contributed to wild claims about the granite structure.

“That’s given the guidestones a sort of shroud of mystery around them, because the identity and intent of the individuals who commissioned them is unknown,” she said after the monument was damaged, and demolished.

“And so that has helped over the years to fuel a lot of speculation and conspiracy theories about the guidestones’ true intent.”

Built in 1980 by a person or group under the pseudonym R.C. Christian, the monument contain inscriptons about humanity, civilisation and other “lessons”. It also acts as a sundial and clock.

Remaining pillars were toppled for safety reasons

02:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Elbert County officials made the decision to take down the remainder of the monument for safety reasons.

Here’s footage of that moment:

Online videos propel lightning ‘act of God’ claims

03:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Online, known conspiracy theorists have shared their own beliefs about how the Georgia Guidestones monument was damaged, in what authorities have labelled an explosion.

At least one YouTube video seen by The Independent suggested the explosion was “an act of God” rather than an act of vandalism because of the partial damage sustained by the granite structure.

Those people have blamed lightning, in an apparent dismissal of what authorities have found and CCTV video showing a vehicle leaving the location shortly after the explosion.

State authorities continue to search for a suspect or suspects.

Local chamber of commerce ‘saddened’ by destruction

04:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The Elbert Chamber of Commerce has said it was “saddened” by the apparent attack on the Georgia Guidestones, which was both a local landmark and a popular tourist spot.

“The Elbert County Chamber of Commerce was saddened to learn of the apparent intentional destruction of our most frequently visited community attraction, the Georgia Guidestones,” the group said.

“Over the years, the Guidestones have created lots of discussion and brought visitors to Elbert County from all over the world. Whatever your personal opinion on the Guidestones is, this attack is bad for our community. We hope that whomever is responsible is apprehended and brought to justice.”

Chris Kubas, the vice president of the Elbert Granite Association which has responsibility for the stone monument, has said local officials and community leaders will have to work out if the Guidestones are restored.

The community will also have to consider who would repay for their reconstruction, should that happen.

“If you didn’t like it, you didn’t have to come see it and read it,” Mr Kubas said to NPR. “But unfortunately, somebody decided they didn’t want anyone to read it.”

Despite evidence of explosion, conspiracy theorists insist God struck down the Georgia Guidestones

06:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Conspiracy theorists are engaging in a role reversal over the Georgia Guidestones, assuring their listeners that the monument‘s destruction was a natural — or perhaps supernatural — event, and not a planned attack by a disgruntled individual.

The Georgia Guidestones, sometimes called “America’s Stonehenge” were demolished on Wednesday after an unknown individual destroyed one of the monument’s pillars in a bomb attack.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Conspiracy theorists insisting God struck down the Georgia Guidestones

Days before attack, memes showing Trump ‘bombing’ Georgia Guidestones

08:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Guidestones appeared on his own social media platform days before the monument was attacked, a report says.

The photoshopped image featuring Mr Trump cropped up on Truth Social on 2 July – four days before the mysterious 19-foot granite monument was damaged in an explosion.

According to the DailyDot, the meme was posted by a verified user on the Trump-owned social media site.

Gino Spocchia reports.

Memes showing Trump ‘bombing’ Georgia Guidestones appeared online days before attack

‘America’s Stonehenge’ bulldozed after bomb attack as CCTV of car released

10:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The mysterious Georgia Guidestones have been bulldozed after sustaining significant damage in an apparent bomb attack. Residents reported hearing a thunderous explosion near their location around 4am on Wednesday.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) told reporters that preliminary information suggests someone used an explosive device to damage the pillars.

Georgia Guidestones: ‘America’s Stonehenge’ bulldozed after bomb attack

First image emerges of suspect in Georgia Guidestones bomb attack

12:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has released the first images of what could be the suspect from the attack on the state’s Guidestones monument.

Releasing the CCTV footage on Thursday, the agency said the video showed a person running towards the 19-foot stone structure and then heading away after leaving an “explosive device” early Wednesday morning.

The video “shows an unknown person leaving an explosive device at the Georgia Guidestones,” the GBI said.

First image emerges of suspect in Georgia Guidestones bomb attack

Remaining pillars were toppled for safety reasons

13:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Elbert County officials made the decision to take down the remainder of the monument for safety reasons.

Here’s footage of that moment:

Who built the Georgia Guidestones and why?

14:15 , Oliver O'Connell

The Georgia Guidestones is a group of stones forming a granite monument in Elbert County, Georgia, located off of Guidestone Road just east of state Highway 77 about 90 miles east of Atlanta, 45 miles from Athens, and seven miles from the town of Elberton, locally known as “the Granite Capital of the World”.

The locally-mined stones feature one slab in the center, with four arranged around it. A capstone lies on top of the five slabs, which are each astronomically aligned. The total height is 19 feet and three inches (5.87m).

An additional stone tablet, set in the ground a short distance to the west of the structure, provides some notes about their history.

Read more about the history of this mysterious landmark.

What are the Georgia Guidestones and where did they come from?

Stone conspiracies featured on ‘Last Week Tonight’

15:15 , Oliver O'Connell

In a segment on the Georgia Guidestones on HBO’s Last Week Tonight, comedian John Oliver discussed the claims aired by GOP gubernatorial candidate Kandiss Taylor during her campaign.

The segment referred to claims about the person behind the monument and white supremacism.

How the ‘Satanic’ Georgia Guidestones became a conservative conspiracy obsession

16:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Why would someone try to blow up an apparently innocuous monument?

Unlike other strange and seemingly inscrutable oddities — like the Toynbee Tiles or the mysterious monolith that was discovered in Utah in 2020— the slabs have been a source of controversy for years.

Graig Graziosi takes at look at how they’ve inspired bizarre theories from day one.

How the Georgia Guidestones became a ‘demonic’ conservative obsession