Two medics belonging to the Just Stop Oil protest group have sprayed orange paint over a dinosaur skeleton at the Natural History Museum.
Consultant gastroenterologist Will Stableforth and physiotherapist Steve Fay used a children’s 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 “For health’s sake- Just Stop Oil” before sitting down at the world famous London musuem and waiting for police to arrive.
The Metropolitan Police said the protesters were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage before being taken into custody.
🚨 BREAKING: Health Professionals Paint Dinosaur Orange
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) October 26, 2023
🦕 A senior physiotherapist and a consultant gastroenterologist have sprayed orange cornstarch over the Titanosaur skeleton in @NHM_London.
🖋️ New oil and gas is a health emergency. March with us — https://t.co/7BzUVS02dZ pic.twitter.com/OxjymZN1tB
A force statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, said: “Two people have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage at the Natural History Museum.
“Two activists from Just Stop Oil vandalised one of the exhibits with orange paint. They are in police custody.”
Stableforth, from Truro in Cornwall, said beforehand: “As an NHS medical consultant I’ve spent many years looking after patients with diseases which, at their root, are caused by fossil fuels.
“I have done everything legal I can to get our message across. Most of that has been ineffective, so it’s time to break the law. I cannot see another way at this time.
“The 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.”
A museum spokesperson said: "We are aware of a Just Stop Oil protest which took place at the Natural History Museum this afternoon. The police have been informed and the affected gallery has been temporarily closed to visitors.
"If you have tickets booked for the Titanosaur exhibition this afternoon, you will be refunded. Please contact feedback@nhm.ac.uk."
