Man Arrested in Connection with Just Stop Oil Protest at Stonehenge

A third individual, a man in his 30s from Essex, has been arrested in connection with a Just Stop Oil protest during which orange paint powder was sprayed on Stonehenge. The arrest was made by Metropolitan Police officers on Thursday, as confirmed by Wiltshire Police.

The suspect faces allegations of aiding and abetting criminal damage, unauthorized entry, damage to an ancient monument, and aggravated trespass. He has been released on bail pending further investigation.

The incident occurred on June 19, the day before the summer solstice, when two individuals, Niamh Lynch, 21, and Rajan Naidu, 73, sprayed paint on several stones. They were arrested at the scene and remain on bail. Members of the public attempted to intervene by dragging the protesters away.

Just Stop Oil stated their protest was intended to urge the UK government to commit to ending the extraction and combustion of oil, gas, and coal by 2030.

English Heritage quickly removed the paint powder, concerned about potential damage to rare lichens on the stones. No visible damage was reported, though the cleaning process could erode the fragile stones and harm the lichens.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer condemned the protest. Historian Tom Holland and various visitors expressed their dismay over the damage to the historical site.

Stonehenge, a 5,000-year-old prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, is a prominent tourist attraction known for its mysterious sarsen stone circle.