Just Stop Oil activists throw tomato soup on Van Gogh's £76million Sunflowers at the National Gallery before hurling paint over Met Police's New Scotland Yard sign

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Two Just Stop Oil protesters who threw Heinz tomato soup at Van Gogh's Sunflowers in the National Gallery in central London have been arrested for criminal damage and aggravated trespass, the Metropolitan Police said.

The duo - named by the pressure group as Anna Holland, 20, and 21-year-old Phoebe Plummer - threw two tins of Heinz tomato soup over the iconic £76 million painting this morning before gluing themselves to a wall inside the Gallery. 

Hours later, other rebellious eco-zealots from the campaign group launched a humiliating attack against the police, spraying orange paint over the New Scotland Yard HQ's sign in Westminster, London - prompting officers to make 24 arrests. 

It comes as activists continue with their relentless campaign of chaos, with today's attacks marking the 14th consecutive day of protests which have caused mayhem across the capital.

The climate change stunt at the National Gallery saw the two Just Stop Oil demonstrators glue themselves to the floor after pouring soup over the iconic Van Gogh. 

One of the protestors said after the stunt: 'What is worth more, art or life?' before they glued themselves to the wall 

One of the protesters, Phoebe Plummer, 21, is led away by police following the political stunt 

Specialist officers were called in to unglue the two protesters after two cans of tomato sauce was thrown on Van Gogh's Sunflowers. Pictured are police officers leading away Phoebe Plummer, rear, and Anna Holland, 20, front 

Police say the £76 million piece of art was 'unharmed' during the climate demonstration today. Pictured are Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland as tomato soup is thrown across the painting

One protester is pictured spraying orange paint on the New Scotland Yard revolving sign

Hours later and activists from Just Stop Oil launched a humiliating attack on the New Scotland Yard HQ in Westminster, hurling paint at the policing hub's sign

Other climate change protesters were seen blocking the road outside the New Scotland Yard building in Westminster

Police say the work of art was 'unharmed' but some minor damage was caused to the frame. The National Gallery said this evening that Sunflowers was back on display and undamaged. 

Scotland Yard added two women were arrested for criminal damage and aggravated trespass. They have been taken into police custody.

A Met Police spokeswoman said: 'Two protesters have been arrested following an incident at the National Gallery.

'The Just Stop Oil protesters entered the National Gallery just after 11am and threw a substance over Van Gogh's Sunflowers painting before gluing themselves to a wall opposite it. 

'They have been arrested by Met police officers for criminal damage and aggravated trespass.'

She added: 'Specialist officers have now un-glued them and they have been taken into custody to a central London police station.

'There is some minor damage to the frame, but the painting is unharmed.'

Meanwhile, the Met Police added a further 24 protesters had been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit criminal damage after activists sprayed orange paint at New Scotland Yard’s revolving sign; and wilful obstruction of the highway after they sat down in the carriageway outside New Scotland Yard.

A police officer detains a woman after a sign at the New Scotland Yard HQ was sprayed with orange paint

24 protesters had been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit criminal damage after activists sprayed orange paint at New Scotland Yard’s revolving sign. Pictured is a man being arrested outside New Scotland Yard on Friday afternoon

Just Stop Oil said the stunt was part of a sustained campaign to get the Government to stop all new oil and gas projects. Pictured is a woman being detained by a police officer after a sign at New Scotland Yard was vandalised today

Some of the demonstrators glued themselves to the road outside the policing HQ, with specialist officers having been called in to remove them. 

Just Stop Oil said the stunt was part of a sustained campaign to get the Government to stop all new oil and gas projects.

After throwing soup on the painting - which has a glass cover - protestor Phoebe Plummer, 21, yelled: 'What is worth more, art or life? Is it worth more than food? More than justice? Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting, or the protection of our planet and people?

'The cost-of-living crisis is part of the cost-of-oil crisis.'  

The protesters were put in a police van at the back entrance of the gallery and were taken into custody to a central London police station. 

The National Gallery has confirmed that the painting was unharmed apart from 'minor damage' to the frame.

Art historian Ruth Millington told MailOnline: 'I think that attacking one of the world's most loved paintings, which I would call priceless, will not gain these protestors public support. That is what which they need in order to effect real change. 

After their protest, the pair of demonstrators glued themselves to the floor and needed to be unglued by specialist police officers. 

Art historian Ruth Millington told MailOnline: 'I think that attacking one of the world's most loved paintings, which I would call priceless, will not gain these protestors public support. Pictured is the aftermath of the attack 

The protesters were put in a police van at the back entrance of the gallery and were taken into custody to a central London police station.

'What has happened today provides a perfect example of why the painting is protected by glass, luckily.'

Activist Anna Holland, 20, from Newcastle said: 'UK families will be forced to choose between heating or eating this winter, as fossil fuel companies reap record profits.

'But the cost of oil and gas isn't limited to our bills. Somalia is now facing an apocalyptic famine, caused by drought and fuelled by the climate crisis.

'Millions are being forced to move and tens of thousands face starvation. This is the future we choose for ourselves if we push for new oil and gas.' 

The demonstrators were surrounded by a group of photographers and journalists when they attacked the painting, before the press were asked to leave by National Gallery Staff. 

After throwing soup on the painting - which has a glass cover - protestor Phoebe Plummer, 21, yelled: 'What is worth more, art or life? Is it worth more than food? More than justice? Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting, or the protection of our planet and people? 

Earlier this month, eco activist Phoebe was pictured being carried away by police in London after blocking Trafalgar Square during a climate protest on October 8

Police were called shortly afterwards to un-glue the climate activists from the wall of the National Gallery and arrested two people for criminal damage.

A National Gallery spokesman said: 'At just after 11am this morning two people entered Room 43 of the National Gallery. The pair appeared to glue themselves to the wall adjacent to Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' (1888). They also threw a red substance - what appears to be tomato soup - over the painting.

'The room was cleared of visitors and police were called. Officers are now on the scene. There is some minor damage to the frame but the painting is unharmed. 

'Two people have been arrested.'

In a tweet from the Metropolitan Police Events account, the force said: 'Officers were rapidly on scene at the National Gallery this morning after two Just Stop Oil protesters threw a substance over a painting and then glued themselves to a wall. 

'Both have been arrested for criminal damage & aggravated trespass. Officers are now de-bonding them.'

Just Stop Oil has held protests throughout the past few weeks, including blocking roads around Parliament Square as police made dozens or arrests.

Following the latest stunt at the National Gallery, the group said: 'This is not a one day event, this is an act of resistance against a criminal government and their genocidal death project.  

'Our supporters will be returning – today, tomorrow and the next day – and the next day after that – and every day until our demand is met: no new oil and gas in the UK.'  

Two weeks of Just Stop Oil protests cause chaos across the capital with eco-zealots blocking bridges and roads

Placards held by Just Stop Oil protesters sitting on Whitehall on Thursday as their environmental demonstrations continue

Today's attack is the 14th day of protest by Just Stop Oil in a concerted campaign of chaos across London which has seen roads and bridge blocked and fights erupting on streets. 

On Thursday, environmental activists caused a furious bust-up between drivers after blocking a key roundabout in South London on their 13th day in a row of protests which have already resulted in 300 arrests.

One man pushed a protester, before a second witness shouted: 'Don't touch him, oi, leave him alone. What do you think you're f***ing doing? Let the police deal with it.' The man replied: 'Where's the f***ing police then?'

But the other man said: You can't f***ing attack them like that, you can't touch them, you can't f***ing physically attack them. Stupid c***.' Passers-by also ripped banners from the group, before further people gave them back.

The demonstrators established a series of roadblocks on routes around St George's Circus in Southwark, which is located between Lambeth North and Elephant and Castle Underground stations.

Police arrested 20 demonstrators for blocking highways. But 90 minutes later, at midday, and a further 15 other eco-zealots from the group were causing more chaos, having charged into Whitehall sitting across the carriage way. 

The 11th day of disruption on Tuesday resulted in the delaying of an ambulance, a fire engine and a car carrying a sick baby to hospital.

Activists have blocked bridges and roads in Westminster, glued themselves to a roof of a police car in Piccadilly Circus and closed down The Mall in front of Buckingham Place.

On October 6 - the sixth day of demonstrations - 32 protesters caused mayhem in Trafalgar Square as they blocked roads in central London.  

Just Stop Oil said that since its main campaign began on April 1, there have been more than 1,600 arrests.

A spokesman said: 'This is not a one-day event, this is an act of resistance against a criminal government and their genocidal death project. Our supporters will be returning – today, tomorrow and the next day – and the next day after that – and every day until our demand is met: no new oil and gas in the UK.

'We will not be intimidated by changes to the law, we will not be stopped by private injunctions sought to silence peaceful people. Our supporters understand that these are irrelevant when set against mass starvation, slaughter, the loss of our rights, freedoms and communities.' 

Just Stop Oil climate activists stage a sit-in protest on Whitehall on Thursday in their second demonstration of the day

 

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Art lovers have since slammed the 'ridiculous' climate stunt, branding it 'despicable'. 

David Smith, 75, who was visiting the capital from Birmingham, said: 'As a Van Gogh lover and fan, I think this is despicable.

'I am not in favour of trying to harm art at all. There must be a better way of protesting.

'They are protesting here in Trafalgar Square, just outside the gallery. They are very near Downing Street and are making lots of noise.

'They have just made a mess of a brilliant artwork.'

Retired grammar schoolteacher Moyra Zaman, 75, from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, who was waiting to visit the gallery, said: 'It is ridiculous. There are better ways to protest.

'It is not exactly as if Van Gogh is responsible for oil extraction.

'They are just looking back to things that happened many years ago and treating them as if they are happening now.

'Van Gogh wasn't part of all this; in those days oil was new to them.

'It is such a waste of a wonderful piece of art.

'Everybody knows the Sunflowers. It is such a sad thing.'

Her pal Yvonne Lincoln, 75, from Chester, added: 'Just because these paintings are ours it is foolish to start damaging them. Doing that is just ridiculous.'

Tim Williams, 68, from Nottingham, said targeting art was not 'a sensible or good way of protesting'.

He added: 'What has art got to do with it anyway? I think these demonstrations are futile.

'For every bit of oil exploration you stop in the UK, China build 10 coal-fuelled power stations. What's the point?' 

Police surrounded the dozens of protestors who blocked Parliament Square earlier this week and staged another protest outside Downing Street 

The attack on the painting comes following large demonstrations by Just Stop Oil in London earlier this week, which blocked traffic in the middle of the city.

Members of the public pleaded with eco zealots who roadblocked a busy junction yesterday, with one woman saying: 'I have a disabled child who needs to go to school, why are you doing this to people?'

Footage emerged showing 20 Just Stop Oil activists - including ten who had glued themselves to the road - at the major roundabout in south London at rush hour being confronted by exasperated motorists.

One furious driver can be seen tearing a banner from the hands of the protestors, as eco activists shouted to 'leave him alone'. 

Moments later, a woman comes over and pleads with the group to get out of the way, as she has a disabled child in her car that needs to get to school.

She can be heard saying: 'Why are you doing this to people? You've made your point' as an ambulance siren goes off in the background.

The protest, blocking traffic on St George's Circus near Waterloo and Elephant and Castle, was the first of two protests carried out by eco protestors today, as another group of protestors later sat in the road outside Downing Street.

Fifteen protesters on Whitehall were 'intermittently sitting in either lane of the carriageway' according to Scotland Yard - with police liaison officers seen speaking to the group who were again holding banners and signs.

National Gallery's Sunflowers painting is one of SEVEN produced by the troubled Dutch artist in less than a year

By Harry Howard, History Correspondent for MailOnline 

The painting that has been covered with tomato soup at the National Gallery is one of seven versions of Sunflowers produced by Vincent Van Gogh.

Five are on display at museums around the world, one has not been seen in public since 1948 after being bought by an unknown millionaire, and the last version was destroyed during the Second World War. 

The paintings are among the the most famous - and valuable - works in the history of art. 

The version of Sunflowers on display at the National Gallery was painted by Van Gogh in August 1888. 

It is said to be worth an estimated $80million, and is one of four that were painted that year. 

The painting that has been covered with tomato soup at the National Gallery is one of seven versions of Sunflowers produced by Vincent Van Gogh

Three others, known as the Repetitions, were produced in January 1889. 

Troubled Dutchman Van Gogh created the paintings in a burst of creative energy that culminated in a mental breakdown.

He infamously sliced off his own ear before taking his own life in 1890. 

The painting in the National Gallery is the fourth version of Sunflowers. 

Other versions are on display in countries including Germany, the United States, the Netherlands and Tokyo. 

The second version, called Six Sunflowers, was in the private collection of Koyata Yamamoto when it was destroyed. 

Van Gogh produced the first of his sunflower pictures in just a week in August 1888

Yamamoto was living on Japan's coast when his town was hit by a US bomb that fell on August 6, 1945, the same day the atomic bomb fell on Hiroshima.

Its appearance was believed to have been lost, until British art historian Martin Bailey stumbled across a photo of the painting in 2013.

Van Gogh produced the first of his sunflower pictures in just a week. But when he first put them up for sale, no one would buy them.

The Dutchman slashed off his ear on December 23, 1888, after being told by his brother that he was getting married. 

He infamously gave the ear to a prostitute and told her to 'keep this object carefully'.

The third version (left) is in the Neue Pinakothek in Munich. Right: A photograph of the second version, which was destroyed during the Second World War

The final painting of version four was one of the depictions produced in 1888

A repeat of painting No 3 (left): On show at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

A replica version of number four is now in Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum

In January 1889, after he had recovered enough to leave hospital, Van Gogh painted three winter copies of his sunflower pictures. 

The artist returned to hospital in February and March, suffering from hallucinations and paranoid fantasies.

In May, he was moved to an asylum. He then shot himself in July 1890 and died two days later. 

But despite his mental turmoil, Van Gogh's Sunflowers series would go on to cement his place in history.  

 

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