US President Donald Trump's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was destroyed and smashed early Wednesday morning. A pick-ax was found near the scene. Police were seen standing at the damaged star with debris and rubble scattered across the sidewalk. This is not the first time the spot has been targeted in this way. US media reported a man reportedly concealed tool in guitar case.

Officers were called around 3:30 am to the star's location on Hollywood Boulevard near Highland Avenue, where they found a small pile of rubble in place of the star that Trump received in January 2007 for his role in the NBC show 'The Apprentice'. The star-smashing suspect, who reported the crime, later turned himself in to Beverly Hills police, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). But he was not to be found anywhere when the police arrived the scene, and he's not to be found anywhere. The pick-axe was left at the scene.

Watch Video: Trump Star Smashed at Hollywood Walk of Fame

Witness David Palmer said he is accustomed to seeing the unusual on Hollywood Boulevard, where tourists mingle with street performers dressed as superheroes and other characters, but he was surprised to see the Walk of Fame vandalism. He told NBC4, "I'm like, 'Why are you hitting that star? What did Donald Trump do to you?' Then he went around the corner and I think he left."

It is not immediately clear when repairs will begin. As daylight arrived, Walk of Fame visitors stopped to take pictures of the smashed star and have a closer look. One man placed an exercise pullup-bar on top of the crumbled remains. In 2016, a man used a sledgehammer and pick-axe to deface the star about a week before Trump was elected US President. Also, a protester had built a 15cm-high concrete barrier around it, in response to Mr Trump's controversial comments about building a wall on the American border with Mexico.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 25, 2018 08:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).