Iconic Stonehenge monument orange spray-painted by climate protestors

Two climate activists from the group "Just Stop Oil" were arrested by UK police after they spray-painted the prehistoric monument Stonehenge on Wednesday. The activists, Niamh Lynch, a 21-year-old University of Oxford student, and Rajan Naidu, a 73-year-old from Birmingham, used orange cornflour for the act, claiming that it would be washed away by rain, according to Al Jazeera.

Just Stop Oil defended their actions as a plea to the incoming British government to halt fossil fuel use by 2030. Their press release emphasized the urgency of addressing fossil fuel consumption to prevent the deaths of millions, stating, "We have to come together to defend humanity, or we risk everything."

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the act, labeling it a "disgraceful act of vandalism." Labour leader Keir Starmer echoed this sentiment, calling the group's actions "pathetic" and describing the damage as "outrageous."

The incident took place just before the summer solstice, an event that attracts thousands to the 4,500-year-old stone circle to celebrate the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. English Heritage, the organization responsible for managing the site, is currently assessing the damage caused by the spray-painting.