London’s National Gallery bans liquids after activist art attacks
Activists have attacked artwork at the National Gallery in London five times, the gallery said. Just Stop Oil said the threat from climate change was much more serious.

By Vivian Ho
October 18, 2024 at 10:44 a.m. EDT

Following a slew of attacks in which climate activists splashed soup and other substances on iconic pieces of art, the National Gallery in London is banning liquids and enacting a number of other security measures.

Starting Friday, visitors to the free museum in the United Kingdom will not be allowed to enter with any liquids except for baby formula, expressed milk or prescription medicines. They will also have to walk through metal detectors and have their bags inspected to access the building, with the museum asking visitors to bring as few items with them as possible.

“The collection we hold is irreplaceable and with each attack we have been forced to consider putting more barriers between the people and their artworks to preserve these fragile objects for future generations,” the art museum said in a statement. “Unfortunately, we have now reached a point where we have been forced to act to protect our visitors, staff and collection.”

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By Vivian Ho
Vivian is a breaking-news reporter in The Washington Post’s London hub, covering news as it unfolds in the United States and around the globe during overnight and early-morning hours in Washington. She previously worked for the Guardian US and the San Francisco Chronicle and is the author of “Those Who Wander: America’s Lost Street Kids.” follow on X @VivianHo