Just Stop Oil activists held after paint protest at Natural History Museum
Two medics were held on suspicion of criminal damage after orange paint was poured over a dinosaur skeleton.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Two medics belonging to the Just Stop Oil protest group have poured orange paint over a dinosaur skeleton at Londonās Natural History Museum.
Consultant gastroenterologist Will Stableforth and physiotherapist Steve Fay used a childrenās powder paint fountain to cover a reproduction Titanosaur skeleton in orange cornstarch just before 2pm on Thursday, the environmentalist group said.
The pair then displayed a banner which read āFor healthās sake- Just Stop Oilā before sitting down and waiting for police to arrive.
The Metropolitan Police said the protesters were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage before being taken into custody.
A force statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, said: āTwo people have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage at the Natural History Museum.
āTwo activists from Just Stop Oil vandalised one of the exhibits with orange paint. They are in police custody.ā
Stableforth, from Truro in Cornwall, said beforehand: āAs an NHS medical consultant Iāve spent many years looking after patients with diseases which, at their root, are caused by fossil fuels.
āI have done everything legal I can to get our message across. Most of that has been ineffective, so itās time to break the law. I cannot see another way at this time.
āThe climate crisis is a healthcare emergency for every single one of us. We demand an end to any new fossil fuels and immediate climate action prioritising public health rather than big business.ā