Freiburg, Germany - An amusement park in south-western Germany had to close down a new carousel ride after the placement of the metal arms was found to resemble spinning swastikas when seen from a distance, a spokesman for the park said on Monday.

Video of the ride, called "Adlerflug" (Eagle's Flight), had been circulating on the online platform Reddit and drawing criticism.

As a result, Tatzmania park, in the town of Loeffingen in the Black Forest region, decided to close the ride with immediate effect and redesign it together with the Italian manufacturer.

The curious optics were not noticed by the park until the video began circulating online. The spokesman said the park, which is geared towards children and families, wanted to avoid causing any offence.