Pair are charged with damaging ancient monument after Just Stop Oil orange paint protest at Stonehenge

Two people have been charged with damaging an ancient monument after a Just Stop Oil orange paint protest at Stonehenge just before the summer solstice. Rajan Naidu, 73, and Niamh Lynch, 22, have been charged with destroying or damaging an ancient protected monument after orange paint powder was thrown at Stonehenge during a JSO stunt in June, Wiltshire Police said. Rajan Naidu, 73, and Niamh Lynch, 21, ran up to the stone circle at around 12pm The pair have been charged for damaging the monument One woman was seen desperately trying to drag the protesters away during the incident Sophie Stevens, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Wessex, said: 'The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Wiltshire Police to charge Naidu Rajan and Niamh Lynch with offences related to damage caused to the protected monument Stonehenge on 19 June 2024. Video footage posted on social media showed two people wearing white shirts with the slogan Just Stop Oil, approaching the monoliths with canisters spraying orange powder paint.