Edinburgh crime: Two women arrested and charged after red paint hurled at Scottish Parliament in eco protest

Police arrested two climate activists at a protest outside the Scottish Parliament, which saw red paint hurled at the building.

The protest was held ahead of First Ministers Questions on Thursday. Two women, aged 23 and 26, were arrested by officers at the scene. Police said they have now been charged in connection with vandalism and a breach of the peace.

Climate group, This is Rigged, have taken responsibility for the paint, which is part of their “escalating” action in an attempt to “shut down Scotland’s oil industry”. In a statement, the activists said: “Today, two people painted the front of the Scottish Parliament to call attention to our government’s criminal inaction on the climate crisis. We tried asking – we challenged our politicians directly, in the seat of power, but they are unwilling to hear us. We are escalating – we will take it to the streets, to the infrastructure, to the media. This summer, we will shut down Scotland’s oil industry until our demands are met.”

The protests come after parliament introduced strict new rules for members of the public wanting to attend FMQ’s, after a string of climate protests interrupted proceedings.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Two woman, 26 and 23, have been arrested and charged in connection with vandalism and a breach of the peace after paint was thrown at the Scottish Parliament building during a protest in Edinburgh this afternoon. A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.”