Protestors have thrown tomato soup over Van Gogh's famous 1888 Sunflowers painting at the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. In the incident, which happened around 11am today (October 14), a pair of women launched the two tins of Heinz tomato soup before security was called in and visitors escorted out of the room.
Just Stop Oil protestors have thrown tomato soup on Van Gogh’s Sunflowers at the National Gallery pic.twitter.com/LkJpar1SVv
— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK)
The pair pictured in the video appear to be wearing 'Just Stop Oil' t-shirts, relating to a climate campaign group that uses civil resistance to end the use of fossil fuels. The protestors then appear to take tubes of glue from under their t-shirts and quickly apply a single hand to the wall.
One woman can be heard shouting "Oh my god," whilst a man's voice shouts for security. One of the protestors then goes on to shout: "We cannot afford new oil and gas, it's going to take everything we know and love.
Police have now arrested two people for criminal damage. In a tweet from the Metropolitan Police Events account, the force said: "Officers were rapidly on scene at the National Gallery this morning after two Just Stop Oil protesters threw a substance over a painting and then glued themselves to a wall. Both have been arrested for criminal damage & aggravated trespass. Officers are now de-bonding them."
