Just Stop Oil: two activists arrested for smashing glass protecting Rokeby Venus at National Portrait Gallery

Two Just Stop Oil activists have been arrested for smashing the glass protecting a 17th century painting at London's National Portrait Gallery.

The climate activist group posted on social media that two supporters had smashed the glass protecting the Rokeby Venus - a 17th century painting famously slashed by suffragette Mary Richardson in 1914. The group said it was in response to the government revealing plans for more oil licences, "knowing it will kill millions".

This comes after media reports that the King's Speech may include a proposed government policy which would "lock in" oil and gas exploration licensing rounds each year for future governments. The BBC reports this could be a political trap for Labour, which plans to block new domestic fossil fuel exploration licences if it comes into power in the next general election.

In a statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, the Metropolitan Police said: "Two Just Stop Oil activists have been arrested for criminal damage. The glass protecting a painting at the National Portrait Gallery has been vandalised."