A Hollywood titan and a Bin Laden once lived in this Bel-Air mansion now scarred by graffiti
A Mediterranean villa in Bel-Air, designed by a famed architect and once occupied by a renowned Hollywood producer, has become the latest target of graffiti vandals. This seven-bedroom mansion, now abandoned by a relative of a notorious international terrorist, was defaced with pop art, obscure quotations, and political messages. The incident marks the third such vandalism of multimillion-dollar homes in Los Angeles recently.
Police detained a man at the property but did not press charges as he was believed to be only taking pictures. The property, located on Stone Canyon Road, was found littered with empty spray paint cans and beer bottles, with shattered windows and graffiti covering both interior and exterior walls. The real estate agent overseeing the property described the damage as extensive and devastating.
The mansion, designed by John Elgin Woolf, has a storied history. It was once home to producer Arthur Freed, known for classics like “Singin’ in the Rain” and “The Wizard of Oz.” In the 1980s, it was purchased by Ibrahim bin Laden, a half-brother of Osama bin Laden. The property has been vacant for over 25 years and has been listed for sale since 2021, with the current asking price at $21.5 million.
Neighbors and private security were unaware of the vandalism until informed by a reporter. The incident has sparked concerns about security and accountability in the area. Fred Rosen, a prominent Bel-Air resident, criticized local political leaders for what he perceives as a lack of consequences for criminal behavior, attributing the rise in such incidents to a broader breakdown in law enforcement and governance.
The vandalism has left the owners, who maintain several other properties worldwide, very upset. Messages scrawled on the walls included expletives and political insinuations, further complicating the sale of the property. The real estate agent emphasized that the owners had no connection to the infamous relative and pleaded for public understanding.
This incident is part of a broader trend of property crimes in Los Angeles, with other high-profile homes and downtown high-rises also being targeted recently. The situation has heightened concerns among residents about safety and the effectiveness of local law enforcement.
