Third arrest after Stonehenge sprayed with powder paint

A third person has been arrested in connection with a Just Stop Oil protest in which part of Stonehenge was covered in orange powder paint.

Campaigners sprayed the substance on the historic site near Salisbury, Wiltshire, at about 12:00 BST on Wednesday 19 June. A man aged in his 30s, from Essex, was detained by Met Police officers on Thursday.

He has been arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting criminal damage, aiding and abetting unauthorised entry and damage to an ancient monument, and aiding and abetting aggravated trespass. He has been released on bail.

The image shows Stonehenge's ancient stone trilithons covered in bright orange powder paint. Two people in white shirts are visible near the monument, with one appearing to spray or apply the paint while orange clouds billow around the stones. The prehistoric structure stands on green grass under a cloudy sky. — Removing the paint could have eroded the fragile stone and damage the lichens, English Heritage said

Two other people, a man in his 70s and a woman in her 20s, were previously arrested in connection with the incident. They remain on bail.

Following the protest, English Heritage said experts had quickly removed the orange powder from the stones.

It confirmed there appeared to be no visible damage from the paint but the act of removing it could erode the fragile stone and damage the lichens.

Just Stop Oil said the motivation behind the incident was to demand the next UK government end the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030.