Art News: Banksy, the international clandestine graffiti ninja, pulled off his greatest ever stunt last night, transforming Rio de Janeiro’s ‘Christ the Redeemer’ into a 39.6 metre high statue of Osama Bin Laden.

With allegations of police corruption running rife, the James Bond of modern art was somehow able to approach the giant statue by helicopter, apparently using a specially adapted cannister and spray nozzle – similar to that used for insecticide – to apply the paint.

Hanging from the helicopter as it hovered in front of one of the world’s most famous landmarks, Banksy was able to finish his spray-paint amendments within a couple of hours. The affect is astonishing: Bin Laden’s arms outstretched as if waiting for death, the first bullet hole just appearing in his body.

Both tight-lipped and tongue-in-cheek, Banksy is famously complicated in the mouth department, with no comment, communication, or even hint as to what he is trying to say.

“I believe is trying to say that Bin Laden is the modern Christ,” says resident Mario Ombligo, “and for that may he burn in hell.”

Rio’s citizens are up in arms – and since they were already heavily armed, those arms are now piling up really quite high.

“We don’t quite know how he managed it,” says mayor Romario Valdez. “But if he hides his face here again, we will, um….”

Story: Jasper Gibson

Image: Q4Nobody