A bust of Edward Snowden, which was secretly installed in Fort Greene Park by a group of anonymous artists at night, has been removed by the New York City’s Department of Parks and Recreation.

The sculpture was mounted on April 6 in Brooklyn near the Prison Ship Martyrs’ Monument in Fort Greene Park.

The artists said they intended the bust to be a tribute to Edward Snowden.

The former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor fled to Russia in 2013 after revealing extensive internet and phone surveillance by US intelligence.

One park visitor described the officials’ decision to remove the bust as “censorship”.

[youtube n7rAhEpft5g 650]