In this distributed photo, “Stop Oil” protesters sit down after spraying an orange substance at Stonehenge in Salisbury, England, on Wednesday. (Stop Oil via AP)
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Two climate activists have been arrested after spraying orange paint on Britain’s famous historical landmark Stonehenge.
The Just Stop Oil group took credit for Wednesday’s action, which they say is a call for the UK to end its use of fossil fuels by 2030.
“Continuing to burn coal, oil and gas will kill millions of people. We must unite to defend humanity or we risk everything.
The group said the orange cornmeal used on the monument would be washed away by rain.
The report identified two activists as Niamh Lynch, a 21-year-old Oxford University student, and Rajan Naidu, a 73-year-old Birmingham resident.
Wiltshire Police confirmed they had arrested two people on suspicion of vandalizing Stonehenge.
The operation took place the day before the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, when thousands of people are expected to flock to the historic site.
English Heritage, which manages Stonehenge, said in a post on X that the site remains open. The organization called the incident “extremely disturbing” and said its curators were assessing the extent of the damage.
Just Stop Oil said in a press release that the UK is not going far enough to stop any future oil and gas licenses and is instead urging the government to sign a legally binding treaty banning the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal. .
British political leaders were quick to condemn the demonstrations.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said in a post on X: “Just stopping oil would be a disgrace.”
Labor leader Keir Starmer, who is running against Sunak in the upcoming election, said the damage to Stonehenge was “appalling”. Starmer called Operation Stop Oil “deplorable” and said those responsible “must face the full force of the law”.
It is the latest public protest by Stop Oil campaigners, whose members have also disrupted Wimbledon tennis matches, disrupted London Pride parades and defaced classic works of art.
