Just Stop Oil issued a photograph of Rajan Naidum and Niamh Lynch,who they said were the activists who sprayed Stonehenge

Credit: Just Stop Oil/PA Wire

JK Rowling has derided Just Stop Oil after two of its protesters sprayed orange powder over Stonehenge.

The pair,named by the climate activist group as Niamh Lynch,21,and Rajan Naidum,73,were filmed vandalising the stone circle,near Salisbury,with repurposed  fire extinguishers on Wednesday afternoon.

A person believed to be a volunteer was seen trying to wrestle the pair away from the monument with the help of visitors.

Wiltshire Police have arrested the activists “on suspicion of damaging the ancient monument”.

The Harry Potter author joined Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer in condemning the group’s actions.

Ms Rowling wrote on X,formerly Twitter: “Public opinion’s definitely moving,mostly towards the conclusion that you’re funded by Big Oil.”

Public opinion's definitely moving,mostly towards the conclusion that you're funded by Big Oil. https://t.co/tZhOnsN2o0

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 19,2024

Just Stop Oil,which is calling on the next government to sign up to a legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030,said the substance used to cover the stones was washable orange cornflour.

However,Ms Rowling derided their tactics,commenting: “Let’s not target anyone or anything remotely responsible for climate change.

“Let’s attack a unique ancient monument to which everyone’s hugely attached,incidentally endangering rare lichen that only grows there.”

A spokesman for English Heritage said curators were investigating the extent of the damage to Stonehenge

English Heritage said the incident was “extremely upsetting”,and it has instructed its curators to investigate the extent of the damage .

Stonehenge remains open to the public.

The Prime Minister called the incident “a disgraceful act of vandalism to one of the UK’s and the world’s oldest and most important monuments”.

“Just Stop Oil should be ashamed of their activists,” he added.

Sir Keir,the Labour leader,said: “Just Stop Oil are pathetic.”

A Just Stop Oil spokesman said: “Continuing to burn coal,oil and gas will result in the death of millions. We have to come together to defend humanity or we risk everything.

“Failure to commit to defending our communities will mean Just Stop Oil supporters,along with citizens from Austria,Canada,Norway,the Netherlands and Switzerland,will join in resistance this summer if their own governments do not take meaningful action.

“Stone circles can be found in every part of Europe showing how we’ve always cooperated across vast distances – we’re building on that legacy.”