"Outrageous": Stonehenge defaced by protesters
In a highly divisive demonstration ahead of the Summer Solstice festival in the UK, climate activists from the Just Stop Oil group have sprayed Stonehenge with orange powder paint, leading to the arrest of two individuals.
The protest, aimed at pushing for a legal commitment from the UK government to phase out fossil fuels by 2030, has sparked widespread condemnation.
The ancient site of Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site managed by English Heritage, was targeted early on Tuesday. Videos shared on social media show activists in “Just Stop Oil” T-shirts spraying a cluster of the prehistoric stones with orange cornflour from small canisters. The activists, Niamh Lynch, a 21-year-old student, and Rajan Naidu, 73, were quickly wrestled and apprehended by bystanders before being detained by police.
English Heritage has launched an investigation to assess the extent of the damage to the stones, some of which are believed to be around 5,000 years old. A spokeswoman for the organisation described the protest as “extremely upsetting” but reassured that the site remains open to the public.
“We are working closely with English Heritage to understand the damage caused by this act,” said a spokesperson for Wiltshire Police. “Our inquiries are ongoing.”
The protest has drawn sharp rebukes from leaders of the UK’s major political parties, coming at a crucial time during the campaign for the upcoming general election on July 4. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the act as “a disgraceful act of vandalism”, and called for the group to be held accountable.
Labour leader Keir Starmer, who is favoured to become the next prime minister, also criticised the protesters, calling the act “outrageous” and demanding that “those responsible must face the full force of the law.”
Just Stop Oil, founded in 2022, has been vocal in its opposition to new oil and gas exploration in the North Sea. The group’s actions, which often disrupt daily life and major events, have led to numerous arrests and jailings of its members.
A spokesperson for Just Stop Oil defended the Stonehenge protest, stating that while the Labour Party has pledged not to issue new oil and gas drilling licenses, this is insufficient. “We need a legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030,” the spokesperson said. “If the government fails to act, we will continue our resistance this summer.”
Images: Twitter (X)