Two members of the environmental group Just Stop Oil were arrested for spraying orange paint on the Stonehenge monument, in a video-captured incident condemned by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Two Just Stop Oil Activists Arrested for Vandalizing Stonehenge
Two members of the environmental group Just Stop Oil were arrested after throwing orange powder on the Stonehenge monument on Wednesday. The incident, which occurred around 11 am, was captured on video and shared on social media. In the footage, the activists can be seen wearing white T-shirts and approaching the historic stones with spray paint canisters. Members of the public intervened, with one protester being detained by a woman while the other sat cross-legged on the grass.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the act as “disgraceful” and called for Just Stop Oil and its associated individuals to denounce the action. Just Stop Oil has stated that their goal is for the UK government to commit to a treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030. The group’s spokesperson noted that similar actions would occur across Europe if governments fail to take significant measures against fossil fuel extraction.
On Thursday, Just Stop Oil activists targeted a private airfield at Stansted Airport, where they believed Taylor Swift’s private jet had recently landed. Two women were arrested for spraying jets with orange paint. Essex Police confirmed the arrests on charges of criminal damage and interference with the use of national infrastructure.
Just Stop Oil was founded in April 2022 and aims to halt new fossil fuel licensing and production. Some of their previous protests have included storming the British Grand Prix, blocking traffic on Park Lane, and throwing soup on Vincent van Gogh’s painting at the National Gallery in London. Their methods have drawn widespread criticism and numerous arrests.
The latest incidents highlight the group’s ongoing campaign and increasing notoriety for high-profile stunts.