Part of a rural Georgia monument, dubbed satanic by some conservative Christians, was damaged by an explosive device on Wednesday, leading to a probe by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. 

One of the pillars of Georgia Guidestones was reduced to rubble by the explosion which took place around 4 am on Tuesday. Officials with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation have reportedly 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 Bureau of Investigation said. 

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The roads in the area were closed down by authorities as an investigation was ongoing. 

The monument was built by anonymous patrons in 1980. The 19-foot-tall granite monument’s stone has inscriptions carved in eight modern languages that some people believe are guidelines for future generations. Some others see it as something more sinister.

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Conspiracy theories related to the monument have led to calls to destroy it.

Former GOP gubernatorial candidate Kandiss Taylor claimed the stones are part of a “Luciferian cabal.” She promised that if she was elected, she would destroy the monument.

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Christopher Kubas, who is part of the Elberton Granite Association, maintains the monument is nothing but a tourist attraction.

“It’s sad. 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,” he told Channel 2′s Richard Elliot.