Activists Spray-Paint Stonehenge: Two Individuals Detained over Monument Vandalism Incident
Police in Wiltshire suspect two individuals of damaging a historic monument with an orange-tinted substance. The ongoing investigation centers around this incident.
Activist group Just Stop Oil claimed responsibility for "adorned" the renowned prehistoric stone structure with orange-hued powder, aiming to boost their demand for the next British government to phase out fossil fuels by 2030. The apprehended activists were identified as a 21-year-old university student from Oxford and a 73-year-old man from Birmingham.
A viral video showed the activists spraying orange substance on multiple stone blocks, with others attempting to thwart them.
Just Stop Oil maintains that they used harmless orange-colored food starch, assuring it would be washed away by rain shortly. Stonehenge expert and archaeologist Mike Pitts told BBC that the Stonehenge stones are delicate and feature partially completed ancient inscriptions, as well as hosting mosses and other sensitive growths. Peter Pitts found the color attack concerning.
Heritage preservation organization English Heritage is assessing the extent of the damages. The site remains accessible to visitors.
The protest occurred on the eve of the Summer Solstice, anticipating thousands of visitors around Stonehenge's circular stone arrangement. Erected around 3000-2300 BC, the massive stones are aligned with the Summer and Winter solstices.
Britain is preparing for an advance parliamentary election on July 4, with all political parties expressing disapproval of the orange substance attack on the World Heritage Site.
Conservative British Prime Minister Boris Johnson denounced the incident as a "disgusting act of vandalism against one of Britain and the world's oldest and most significant monuments". Johnson accused Just Stop Oil of being ashamed of their activists. Labour Party leader Keir Starmer declared that such actions merit "severe legal consequences".
Just Stop Oil asserts that the Labour Party's promise not to issue new oil and gas exploration licenses is insufficient. Instead, they call for the newly elected government to legally bind themselves to eradicate fossil fuel energy sources by 2030 due to the "dire consequences" of the ongoing climate crisis.
Activist groups like Just Stop Oil and Last Generation have recently created a stir with their controversial actions of defacing iconic art and architectural landmarks. In the previous September, Last Generation members painted yellow and orange colors on the Brandenburg Gate pillars in Berlin, requiring extensive cleanup until November.
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The incident occurred in the county of Wiltshire, home to the famous Stonehenge monument. The apprehended individuals hail from Oxford and Birmingham, respectively, two cities in England.
The vandalism took place during the lead-up to the Summer solstice, a significant event at Stonehenge, drawing thousands of visitors annually.
The color powder used in the protest was reported to be orange-tinted food starch, claimed to be harmless and washable by rain.
The BBC reported on the incident, with experts expressing concern over the delicate state of the ancient Stonehenge stones and their growths.
Just Stop Oil, the activist group responsible for the protest, faces criticism from political leaders ahead of the upcoming Parliamentary election in Great Britain.
The Labour Party and Conservative Party, among others, have condemned the attack on the World Heritage Site, while Just Stop Oil calls for more stringent climate action.
Local law enforcement and environmental groups are assessing the damage caused by the vandalism incident, with Stonehenge remaining open to visitors.
Similar controversial actions have been taken by activist groups like Last Generation, causing destruction to iconic landmarks in Britain and beyond.
