Van Gogh’s Sunflowers: Women charged with damaging frameon October 15, 2022 at 9:10 am

Three women have been charged with criminal damage after one of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers paintings and the New Scotland Yard sign were defaced.

The Van Gogh masterpiece had what appeared to be tomato soup thrown at it in the National Gallery on Friday.

Paint was thrown on the Met Police’s sign during Just Stop Oil’s protests later the same day.

Anna Holland, 20, Phoebe Plummer, 21, and Lora Johnson, 38, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court later.

Ms Holland, of Westgate Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and Ms Plummer, of Elms Road, Clapham, south London, were charged with criminal damage to the frame of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.

Ms Johnson, of Keens Lane, Southwold, was charged with criminal damage to the sign outside New Scotland Yard.

The National Gallery said the Van Gogh had a “red substance, what appeared to be tomato soup” thrown at it about 11:00 BST.

The work, which was created in 1888 and is covered by glass, was back on display about six hours later.

The New Scotland Yard sign was defaced with yellow paint and activists also blocked the road in front of the Metropolitan Police’s headquarters.

The Met Police said it was using its full powers to manage ongoing protests by environmentalists.

A total of 28 arrests were made in relation the protests.

The 25 other people have been bailed pending further enquiries.