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UK climate protesters glue themselves to gallery paintings

LONDON (AP) - Climate change protesters targeted a copy of Leonardo da Vinci's 'œThe Last Supper'ť at London's Royal Academy of Arts Tuesday, gluing themselves to the painting's frame and spray-painting 'œNo New Oil'ť next to it.

The protest, organized by supporters of the campaign group 'œJust Stop Oil,'ť came a day after two activists from the group were arrested after gluing themselves to the frame of John Constable's 'œThe Hay Wain'ť in London's National Gallery.

On Tuesday, five activists went into the Royal Academy and attached a hand each to the frame of 'œThe Last Supper," a full-size copy of da Vinci's famous 15th-century work.

The Metropolitan Police said three men and two women were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. The Royal Academy said the gallery room was closed to the public and that police were 'œcalled upon the protesters' request.'ť

'œJust Stop Oil," which wants the government to stop giving out licenses for new oil and gas projects, has staged a series of attention-grabbing protests over the past week.

On Monday, two activists were arrested after they covered Constable's 1821 'œThe Hay Wain'ť with large sheets of paper depicting 'œan apocalyptic vision of the future." They then each stuck a hand on the frame of the oil painting and protested as security staff ushered out tourists and a group of schoolchildren.

The National Gallery said that painting's frame 'œsuffered minor damage'ť and 'œthere was also some disruption to the surface of the varnish on the painting,'ť but both were fixed and the painting was rehung.

Activists from 'œJust Stop Oil" also disrupted the British Grand Prix race on Sunday when they sat down on the track during a halt in the Formula One race in Silverstone, southern England.

Police said six people were charged with conspiracy to cause public nuisance at the race.

Protesters glue their hands to the frame of John Constable's The Hay Wain after first having covered the painting with their own picture, inside the National Gallery, London, Monday July 4, 2022. Police say two climate change protesters have been arrested after they glued themselves to the frame of a famous John Constable painting hanging in Britain's National Gallery. The two, from the protest group 'œJust Stop Oil,' stepped over a rope barrier and covered 'œThe Hay Wain' on Monday with large sheets of paper depicting 'œan apocalyptic vision of the future' of the landscape. (Kirsty O'Connor/PA via AP) The Associated Press
A security guard looks at protesters who glued their hands to the frame of John Constable's The Hay Wain, inside the National Gallery, London, Monday July 4, 2022. Police say two climate change protesters have been arrested after they glued themselves to the frame of a famous John Constable painting hanging in Britain's National Gallery. The two, from the protest group 'œJust Stop Oil,' stepped over a rope barrier and covered 'œThe Hay Wain' on Monday with large sheets of paper depicting 'œan apocalyptic vision of the future' of the landscape. (Kirsty O'Connor/PA via AP) The Associated Press
Protesters from "Just Stop Oil" climate protest group glue their hands to the frame of a copy of Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper', inside the Royal Academy, London, Tuesday July 5, 2022. The protest came after 'œJust Stop Oil' activists targeted other art galleries in the U.K. last week and disrupted the British Grand Prix race on Sunday by sitting down on the track during a halt in the Formula One race. (James Manning/PA via AP) The Associated Press
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