– Stonehenge solstice celebration
– Stonehenge untouched by protest paint.
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
LONDON (AP) — The iconic Stonehenge monuments that have stood for thousands of years in southern England appear unscathed after a group of climate protesters were arrested for spraying orange paint on them, according to an official statement released on Thursday.
Nick Merriman, the chief executive of English Heritage, confirmed that workers successfully cleaned the stones and the approximately 4,500-year-old monument was visibly undamaged.
“It’s difficult to understand and we’re deeply saddened by this act of vandalism to one of the world’s most celebrated ancient monuments,” Merriman expressed during an interview with BBC Radio 4.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site was reopened and was expected to host thousands of revelers celebrating the summer solstice, marking the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, early Friday.
Stonehenge, built on a windswept plain in southern England over 5,000 years ago, remains shrouded in mystery regarding its origin and purpose. The stone circle aligns with the summer solstice sunrise and winter solstice sunset, attracting crowds of spiritualists, druids, and sun worshipers.
Arrests Made in Connection with Vandalism
A 73-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman were released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, damaging an ancient monument, and deterring a person from engaging in a lawful activity.
The climate change activism group, Just Stop Oil, claimed responsibility for the vandalism and released a video showing a man identified as Rajan Naidu spraying orange paint from a fire extinguisher at one of the vertical stones.
During the incident, protesters at the site attempted to intervene, with one person managing to wrestle the paint can away from Naidu. Another protester, identified as Niamh Lynch, sprayed three stones before being stopped.
Just Stop Oil stated that the paint used was made of cornstarch and would dissolve in the rain.
Public Outcry and Responses
The publicity stunt by Just Stop Oil was strongly condemned by various political figures, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who called it a “disgraceful act of vandalism.” Opposition leader Keir Starmer labeled the group as “pathetic” and described the damage as “outrageous.”
The group continued its disruptive activities by taking credit for the vandalism of private jets at an airport outside London, leading to the arrest of two women.
Just Stop Oil’s protests have disrupted sporting events, defaced famous works of art, and caused traffic jams, resulting in convictions, jail terms, and widespread criticism.
Expert Clean-Up Efforts
Merriman highlighted that experts took immediate action to clean the orange powder from the stones due to concerns about its reaction to water.
The incident at Stonehenge serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle between environmental activism and the preservation of cultural heritage sites.
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– Stonehenge solstice celebration
– Stonehenge summer solstice festivities.
