The theft of an iconic photograph of Winston Churchill that hung in an Ottawa hotel and was swapped for a fake copy months ago has sparked an outpouring of popular support in an attempt to locate the image and identify those responsible.

The portrait of the former British Prime Minister was captured by renowned Canadian photographer Yousuf Karsh during Churchill’s visit to the Canadian Parliament in 1941, during World War II, and hangs in the hotel’s Reading Room Chateau Laurier, located steps from the Legislative Assembly and where Karsh lived for 18 years.

On Monday, the hotel reported that the photograph of Churchill, known as ‘The Roaring Lion’ and the base of the Bank of England’s £5 note, had been replaced months ago with a copy bearing Karsh’s forged signature.

This Wednesday, it was learned that the original was still on his site on December 25, 2021. But a photo taken on January 6 by a journalist from the Canadian public broadcaster CBC reveals that at that time the photo of Karsh had already been stolen.

Authorities and hotel management have asked the public for information on any unusual activity that took place at the hotel between December 25 and January 6 in an attempt to locate Churchill’s photo, valued at approximately $100,000, and the perpetrators of the theft, supposed to be professionals.

Dozens of Canadians have already sent the hotel and Ottawa police photographs of the hotel’s reading room taken over the past few months to try to determine when the portrait was stolen.

During his professional career, Karsh became a photographer for international personalities. His portraits of Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King, Ernest Hemingway, Dwight Eisenhower, Humphrey Bogart, Nelson Mandela or Mother Teresa of Calcutta have become iconic.

Regarding the portrait of Churchill, Karsh said at the time that the British Prime Minister was unaware that his aides had authorized the photo op when he visited the Canadian Parliament in 1941.

When Karsh told him he was going to take his picture, a surly Churchill told him he could only take one picture.

Karsh set the scene and when he saw that Churchill had a cigar in his mouth, he took it away without warning.

“Without any premeditation but with infinite respect, I removed the cigarette from his lips. As I walked the meter that separated me from the camera, he looked so belligerent that he could have eaten me Immediately with a big smile, he said, “You can have another one,” Karsh said.

After the photo shoot, Churchill again turned to the photographer and said, “You can even make a roaring lion stand still for the picture.”