A group of stone monuments in rural Georgia that have been the subject of conspiracies and controversies in the past were destroyed in an explosion early Wednesday morning. One of the four granite panels that make up the “Georgia Guidestones” was completely destroyed.

The roadside monuments, known by some as “America’s Stonehenge,” were fully demolished by city workers Wednesday after the explosion. The concrete panels were commissioned in 1980 by a man who used the pseudonym R.C. Christian.

Georgia authorities released surveillance footage showing the explosion, and a silver sedan leaving the scene. Security cameras had been installed in this area because the monument has been vandalized in the past. So far, they have not provided a description of possible suspects or a motive for the seemingly targeted bombing.

The panels included several writings of “guides for humanity” translated into eight languages. Along with several pieces of advice the Guidestones recommended the world “Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.” It also contains language very close to eugenics when it advises people to “Guide reproduction wisely – improving fitness and diversity.”

Here is a closer photo of one of the panels, the user claims it was the one destroyed in the bombing but that has not been verified.

The Georgia Guidestones came into conversation when the far-right former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Kandiss Taylor claimed they were “satanic.” She wrote, “God is God all by himself. He can do Anything He wants to do,” on Twitter after news of the explosions broke on Wednesday.

Christopher Kubas, executive vice president of the Elberton Granite Association, which manages the monument, said the message is “up to your own interpretation,” but he believes the stones are meant to be a guide to rebuilding human communities after a world-ending disaster. He estimated that around 20,000 people visited the monument each year.

Kubas hopes that local officials or community leaders will be able to pay for the Guidestones’ restoration but that hasn’t been confirmed. He also expressed disappointment in its destruction. “If you didn’t like it, you didn’t have to come and read it. But unfortunately, someone decided they didn’t want anyone to read it,” Kubas said.

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