A man has been arrested on suspicion of trying to steal a Magna Carta from Salisbury Cathedral.

Wiltshire police said the 45-year-old was arrested on Thursday after alarms were triggered by an attempt to smash the glass box in which the artefact was displayed.

A man matching witness descriptions was arrested on suspicion of attempted theft, possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage. Police said he remained in custody.

The document was not damaged in the incident.

Magna Carta, one of the most significant documents in British history, is a peace treaty that was sealed by King John in 1215 that lays out rights agreed with rebel barons. It is seen as a precursor to modern assertions of universal rights.

The edition at Salisbury Cathedral is one of only four copies of the original charter still in existence.

Staff at Salisbury Cathedral wrestled the suspect to the ground, the Dean of Salisbury said.

The Rev Canon Nicholas Papadopulos said a man broke through one of two glass screens protecting the document in front of horrified onlookers. His attempt to breach the casing activated a silent alarm that alerted staff.

The Rev Canon Nicholas Papadopulos beside the glass case that houses Salisbury Cathedral’s copy of the Magna Carta. Photograph: Ben Birchall/PA

Papadopulos said a man was detained in the cathedral work yard by members of staff and restrained until the police arrived. “Our guys were very courageous. They were able to restrain him and they held him for 12 minutes.”

Salisbury Cathedral said in a statement: “We can confirm that at the end of the afternoon yesterday, a man attempted to break into the case which houses the Magna Carta in the cathedral’s chapter house. He was arrested by police shortly afterwards and taken into custody.

“We are very relieved that no one was hurt during the incident and that the Magna Carta itself is undamaged. We are very grateful to all who dealt with the situation so swiftly and effectively. We are very sorry that, for the time being, our copy of Magna Carta will not be available to visitors and will have it back on display as soon as we can.”