Police Arrest Two People after Ranting Eco-Morons Attacked Mona Lisa in the Louvre by Throwing Soup
- 3 months ago
Police have arrested two people after eco-activists threw soup at the Mona Lisa before shouting climate slogans at the gathered crowd at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
Protesters from the French organization Riposte Alimentaire, meaning 'food response', sprayed the 16th-century masterpiece by Leonardo Da Vinci with pumpkin soup as they demanded the right to 'healthy and sustainable food'.
A statement from the Louvre said that the Salle des Etats, where the Mona Lisa is displayed, was evacuated after the demonstration and closed for an hour while cleaning was carried out, before being reopened to visitors around midday.
The Paris museum confirmed no damage was done to the world-famous painting, which is on display behind protective armored glass, but said that it would complain.
Following the incident, police said this afternoon that they have arrested two people.
The Mona Lisa is one of the most valuable paintings in the world and holds the Guinness World Record for the highest insurance valuation of $100 million in 1962 - around $1 billion today.
Video of the protest shows two people clambering under the barrier after hurling the orange liquid at the world-famous painting.
They stand in front of the splattered artwork as museum staff rush into view carrying protective screens.
One of the activists then takes off her jacket to reveal a white T-shirt with the eco-group 'Riposte Alimentaire' written in black capital letters.
The eco-activists are part of the so-called A22 network movement - a collection of protest groups in 12 countries across the world, which includes Just Stop Oil in the UK.
Riposte Alimentaire claimed responsibility for the attack, which happened at about 10 am, and identified the activists as 24-year-old Sasha and Marie-Juliette, 63.
The group told MailOnline the two women had thrown tomato soup at the painting.
Protesters from the French organization Riposte Alimentaire, meaning 'food response', sprayed the 16th-century masterpiece by Leonardo Da Vinci with pumpkin soup as they demanded the right to 'healthy and sustainable food'.
A statement from the Louvre said that the Salle des Etats, where the Mona Lisa is displayed, was evacuated after the demonstration and closed for an hour while cleaning was carried out, before being reopened to visitors around midday.
The Paris museum confirmed no damage was done to the world-famous painting, which is on display behind protective armored glass, but said that it would complain.
Following the incident, police said this afternoon that they have arrested two people.
The Mona Lisa is one of the most valuable paintings in the world and holds the Guinness World Record for the highest insurance valuation of $100 million in 1962 - around $1 billion today.
Video of the protest shows two people clambering under the barrier after hurling the orange liquid at the world-famous painting.
They stand in front of the splattered artwork as museum staff rush into view carrying protective screens.
One of the activists then takes off her jacket to reveal a white T-shirt with the eco-group 'Riposte Alimentaire' written in black capital letters.
The eco-activists are part of the so-called A22 network movement - a collection of protest groups in 12 countries across the world, which includes Just Stop Oil in the UK.
Riposte Alimentaire claimed responsibility for the attack, which happened at about 10 am, and identified the activists as 24-year-old Sasha and Marie-Juliette, 63.
The group told MailOnline the two women had thrown tomato soup at the painting.