Third arrest after Stonehenge sprayed with powder paint

On Wednesday, June 19, at around 12:00 BST, people dressed in white t-shirts sprayed orange powder paint on Stonehenge. This act was part of a protest by the group Just Stop Oil. The protest aimed to demand that the next UK government end the extraction and burning of oil, gas, and coal by 2030. A third person has been arrested in connection with this incident. The individual is a man in his 30s from Essex. He was detained by Met Police officers on Thursday. He is suspected of aiding and abetting criminal damage, unauthorized entry, and damage to an ancient monument, as well as aiding and abetting aggravated trespass. He has been released on bail.

Two other individuals were previously arrested in connection with the incident. One is a man in his 70s, and the other is a woman in her 20s. Both remain on bail. Following the protest, English Heritage, the organization responsible for the care of Stonehenge, stated that experts had quickly removed the orange powder from the stones. They confirmed that there appeared to be no visible damage from the paint. However, they expressed concern that the act of removing the paint could erode the fragile stone and damage the lichens that grow on it.

Just Stop Oil, the group behind the protest, said their motivation was to push for an end to the extraction and burning of fossil fuels by 2030. They believe that such actions are necessary to combat climate change. The protest at Stonehenge is one of several actions taken by the group to draw attention to their cause. The police are continuing their investigation into the incident, and more arrests may follow. English Heritage is also assessing the long-term impact of the paint on the ancient stones.