“Stop Oil” activists attack a painting in the National Gallery with a hammer; Video | world

Two activists from the NGO Just Stop Oil entered the National Gallery Museum, in London, UK, on ​​Monday (6) and smashed Velázquez’s painting ‘The Rokeby Venus’, breaking the glass membrane. Which protects the work. Two people were arrested.

The group posted a video of the attack on social media. They justified the attack by claiming that the destruction occurred because the government “revealed plans for more oil licences, knowing full well how many millions (of people) this would kill.” In response, two Just Stop Oil supporters destroyed the Rokeby Venus – a ship that had previously been destroyed By suffragette Mary Richardson in 1914.”

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to announce throughout the day how the wheels of new oil and gas licenses in the North Sea, located in the Atlantic Ocean, will work.

This measure is supposed to allow companies to compete annually to obtain new licenses to explore fossil fuels. Speaking to the Financial Times, Sunak said the new rule should protect jobs and boost domestic energy security.

The museum said on social media that after the attack, the room was evacuated and local police were called. “The pair appear to be attacking Velazquez’s Venus (‘The Rokeby Venus’) toilet with what appear to be hammers. The room has been emptied of visitors and police have been called. Officers are already on the scene.”

The painting was removed from the exhibition for examination by experts. There is still no information on whether the work has been damaged.