17 April 2023 , 19:28
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The Just Stop Oil group have released a statement after two of their members halted play at the World Snooker Championship.
The extraordinary scenes took place during Robert Milkins' clash against Joe Perry in the evening session at the Crucible. The game was just a few minutes old, with Milkins leading 11-4 in, before one protester climbed from the stands and onto the table.
He then proceeded to throw "coloured chalk" over half of the table - with all but two balls covered. After the activist was taken away, officials opted to remove every ball from the table and clean it, in a bid to get rid of the chalk.
A second protester tried to attach themselves to another table, that was hosting the match between Mark Allen and Fan Zhengyi. However, security intervened in time and the perpetrator was escorted away without causing any damage.
The group have now taken to Twitter to explain their actions: "At around 7:20pm, two Just Stop Oil supporters have disrupted the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, interrupting play," they posted. "The pair proceeded to cover the tables in orange powder paint before being removed by security and arrested.
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"They are demanding that the Government immediately stop all new UK fossil fuel projects and are calling on UK sporting institutions to step into in civil resistance against the Government’s genocidal policies."
The table was left covered in powder (PA)A 30-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, and both are in police custody.
A statement from South Yorkshire Police on Monday night read: “Two people were detained after protestors gained entry to The Crucible earlier this evening (Monday 17 April). A 30-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. Both are in police custody.”
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The incident comes just two days after protestors disrupted the start of the Grand National at Aintree on Saturday. Activists from the group Animal Rising tried to break into the course, delaying the race by several minutes.
Just Stop Oil protests have become more frequent at sporting events. Last March, a man later identified as Louis McKechnie entered the field at Goodison Park and tied himself to the goalpost during the Everton v Newcastle Premier League clash. He was duly sentenced to six weeks in prison.