Billy Horschel helps security remove Just Stop Oil protesters after smoke flare stunt at The Open

UK

Just Stop Oil protesters have disrupted The Open golf championship with a smoke flare and orange powder at the 17th hole.

The group tweeted: “Three Just Stop Oil Supporters have disrupted The British Open – they demand that the UK government halts all new oil and gas projects.”

One of the players – believed to be American Billy Horschel – helped security remove the protesters after the incident, which happened around 12.20pm.

Just Stop Oil protest at the Open
Image:
One of the players helped security deal with the interruption

The Open, one of golf’s four majors, is taking place at the Royal Liverpool course.

Just Stop Oil identified two of the protesters as Noah Crane, 18, a community coordinator, and 19-year-old student Hailey Birch.

“I’m disrupting the Open today, not because I want to, but as a young person, I feel I have no other choice,” said Mr Crane.

“This government is knowingly taking action that will kill hundreds of millions of people and destroy my future.”

More on Just Stop Oil

The protests follow other action by the group in London today, with the group saying about 160 people marched in 16 groups.

Just Stop Oil said they were taking action at locations including Hammersmith, Redbridge, King’s Cross, Victoria, Whitechapel, Farringdon and Earl’s Court.

Video tweeted by the group shows members of the public pushing them off the road at one location.

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Just Stop Oil protesters jostled

It’s not the first time people have taken things into their own hands, with activists also manhandled on Monday when they again blocked roads in the capital.

The group has become well known for disrupting high-profile events to publicise its cause.

Two members ran on stage during The Proms recently, while confetti and jigsaw pieces were thrown on the courts at Wimbledon a few weeks ago.

England cricketer Jonny Bairstow also carried off a protester at the Ashes in June, and orange powder was thrown on a table at the snooker world championship in April.

New powers to crack down on activists came into force this month.

They give police new rights to move static protesters, such as those who attach themselves to objects or sit in the road.

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