JUST Stop Oil eco-loons used hammers to attack a priceless artwork yesterday — before others targeted The Cenotaph.
The duo smashed the glass covering of Diego Velazquez’s Rokeby Venus at the National Gallery in central London.
Conservators took down the 17th century masterpiece to inspect it for any damage.
Students Hanan Ameur, 22, and Harrison Donnelly, 20, were arrested.
It was previously slashed with a butcher’s knife by Suffragette Mary Richardson in 1914.
Today JSO issued a statement linking its campaign to the Suffragettes’ struggle for votes.
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Tonight The National Gallery said the JSO pair, previously charged over the group’s stunts, used what “appeared to be emergency rescue hammers”.
Just as they were being nicked, another three JSO eco-zealots were spotted lying down near the monument to the nation’s fallen heroes.
Photos of the hi-vis jacketed protesters — so close to Remembrance Sunday — sparked outraged online.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper blasted: “Targeting The Cenotaph’s totally unacceptable.”
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One of the three, a mum of one, claimed she was taken there by police after being arrested on her way to join 60 other JSO activists in a lying down protest at the nearby Cabinet Office.
Onlookers criticised the group for staging a protest so near The Cenotaph.
Hilary Vinas, 64, on holiday from San Antonio, Texas, said: “It’s disrespectful to see them stage a protest this close to the memorial this weekend.
“And don’t they realise nothing would work without oil?”
Photographer Louis McLaren, 21, from Kent, added: “It’s ridiculous to see so many police here for this.
“They are being prevented from doing their jobs.”
JSO said: “We have not targeted The Cenotaph.
“The police moved people there when they were being arrested.”
The Met said the arrests were for public order offences, but did not link them to The Cenotaph.
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Daniel Hammond
