Environmental activists have sprayed Stonehenge, a renowned prehistoric site in Britain, with orange paint just a day before a significant gathering is expected there for the summer solstice celebration.
A video shared by the group Just Stop Oil on social media shows two of its members using fire extinguishers to spray paint the historic landmark.
According to Just Stop Oil’s post, the protestors are demanding that the incoming government commit to phasing out fossil fuels by 2030 through a legally binding treaty.
The incident occurred at approximately 12 p.m. local time (7 a.m. ET) at the ancient site near Salisbury in Wiltshire, southwest England, as confirmed by Wiltshire Police. The police have arrested the two protesters on suspicion of damaging the ancient monument.
The official Stonehenge account expressed deep concern over the incident, stating that orange powdered paint was thrown at several of the stones. English Heritage, which manages the site, mentioned that the site remains open, and investigations into the damage are ongoing.
The arrested protesters are a 21-year-old student from Oxford and a 73-year-old man from Birmingham, according to Just Stop Oil’s press release.
In preparation for the summer solstice event on Thursday, English Heritage has released “conditions of entry,” urging attendees to respect the sacred and historic nature of Stonehenge.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the actions of Just Stop Oil, calling them disgraceful. This isn’t the first time the group has made headlines for its protests, as they were recently involved in an incident where two protesters damaged the protective glass of the Magna Carta at the British Museum in London.
Climate activists have been organizing high-profile protests that sometimes involve targeting valuable artworks, such as the Mona Lisa and Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers.”