In a shocking development, two activists splashed soup on the bullet-proof glass safeguarding Leonardo da Vinci's iconic painting "Mona Lisa" in Paris on Sunday (Jan 28).

The protesters did so demanding the right to "healthy and sustainable food", reported news agency AFP.

The two women, on Sunday morning, hurled the orange and red soup onto the clear casing protecting the famous artwork displayed at the Louvre Museum in France's capital city causing a commotion.

The unprecedented act resulted in gasps from the crowd, who were undoubtedly shocked and surprised by the sudden turn of events.

"What is more important? Art or the right to healthy and sustainable food," the activists asked, standing in front of the painting and speaking in turn.

"Your agricultural system is sick. Our farmers are dying at work," they said before security staff evacuated the room.

A police source, as per AFP reports, said that both the activists have been detained.

The Louvre Museum released a statement saying that the protesters had hidden the pumpkin soup in a coffee thermos.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/danger-looms-on-rishi-sunak-as-crafty-tories-plot-to-throw-him-out-of-downing-street-report-684595">Danger looms on Rishi Sunak as crafty Tories plot to throw him out of Downing Street: Report</a>

It further added that the iconic artwork remained unharmed and that the room housing the masterpiece had re-opened to the public after being closed for nearly an hour.

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Par leur action non violente, Sasha (24ans) et Marie-Juliette (63ans) exigent la mise en place d'une Sécurité Sociale de l'Alimentation Durable. [2] 
 
👉<a href="https://t.co/FLzMmVW4tW">https://t.co/FLzMmVW4tW</a><a href="https://twitter.com/SocialeAlim?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SocialeAlim</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SSAD?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SSAD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Alimentation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Alimentation</a> <a href="https://t.co/i4YS6VrrRX">pic.twitter.com/i4YS6VrrRX</a>
— Riposte Alimentaire (@riposte_alim) <a href="https://twitter.com/riposte_alim/status/1751554609720471872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2>Riposte Alimentaire claims responsibility&nbsp;</h2>

The responsibility for the unexpected act was taken by a group named Riposte Alimentaire ("Food counterattack").

They said that the stunt marked the "start of a campaign of civil resistance with the clear demand... of the social security of sustainable food".

Member of the group, Till Van Elst claimed that they wanted the state to provide people food items at reduced rates through a specialised social security card.&nbsp;

Under the scheme, democratic assemblies would choose the food to be subsidised.

"We want citizens to really be able to... decide what is in their plates," he told AFP.

<h2>Culture Minister Rachida Dati denounces act</h2>

Dati, denouncing the act, stated, "The Mona Lisa, as our heritage, belongs to future generations. No cause can justify targeting it," she wrote on X.

This also comes amid the ongoing farmer protests in France who have been staging demonstrations demanding better pay, taxes and regulations.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on Sunday announced new measures after some farmers threatened to block roads in the capital city on Monday.

It is the latest attack on the masterpiece in the French capital's Louvre museum after someone threw a custard pie at it in May 2022, but its thick glass casing ensured it came to no harm.

(With inputs from agencies)

In a shocking development, two activists splashed soup on the bullet-proof glass safeguarding Leonardo da Vinci's iconic painting "Mona Lisa" in Paris on Sunday (Jan 28).

In a shocking development, two activists splashed soup on the bullet-proof glass safeguarding Leonardo da Vinci's iconic painting "Mona Lisa" in Paris on Sunday (Jan 28). The protesters did so demanding the right to "healthy and sustainable food", reported news agency AFP. The two women, on Sunday morning, hurled the orange and red soup onto the clear casing protecting the famous artwork displayed at the Louvre Museum in France's capital city causing a commotion. The unprecedented act resulted in gasps from the crowd, who were undoubtedly shocked and surprised by the sudden turn of events. "What is more important? Art or the right to healthy and sustainable food," the activists asked, standing in front of the painting and speaking in turn. "Your agricultural system is sick. Our farmers are dying at work," they said before security staff evacuated the room. A police source, as per AFP reports, said that both the activists have been detained. The Louvre Museum released a statement saying that the protesters had hidden the pumpkin soup in a coffee thermos. Also read: Danger looms on Rishi Sunak as crafty Tories plot to throw him out of Downing Street: Report It further added that the iconic artwork remained unharmed and that the room housing the masterpiece had re-opened to the public after being closed for nearly an hour. Par leur action non violente, Sasha (24ans) et Marie-Juliette (63ans) exigent la mise en place d'une Sécurité Sociale de l'Alimentation Durable. [2] 👉https://t.co/FLzMmVW4tW@SocialeAlim #SSAD #Alimentation pic.twitter.com/i4YS6VrrRX — Riposte Alimentaire (@riposte_alim) January 28, 2024 × Riposte Alimentaire claims responsibility The responsibility for the unexpected act was taken by a group named Riposte Alimentaire ("Food counterattack"). They said that the stunt marked the "start of a campaign of civil resistance with the clear demand... of the social security of sustainable food". Member of the group, Till Van Elst claimed that they wanted the state to provide people food items at reduced rates through a specialised social security card. Under the scheme, democratic assemblies would choose the food to be subsidised. "We want citizens to really be able to... decide what is in their plates," he told AFP. Culture Minister Rachida Dati denounces act Dati, denouncing the act, stated, "The Mona Lisa, as our heritage, belongs to future generations. No cause can justify targeting it," she wrote on X. This also comes amid the ongoing farmer protests in France who have been staging demonstrations demanding better pay, taxes and regulations. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on Sunday announced new measures after some farmers threatened to block roads in the capital city on Monday. It is the latest attack on the masterpiece in the French capital's Louvre museum after someone threw a custard pie at it in May 2022, but its thick glass casing ensured it came to no harm. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch | Protesters splash soup at iconic Mona Lisa painting at Louvre Museum in Paris

French investigators began questioning today a suspect in the attack on soldiers at the Louvre Museum in Paris, but the man refused to speak, a judicial source said.

The suspect, believed to be an Egyptian national, was shot in the stomach and seriously wounded after lunging at the soldiers with two machetes on Friday.

The attack was the latest in a string of assaults in France and thrust the issue of security back into the headlines three months ahead of the French presidential election.

Investigators decided to question him at his hospital bed after his condition improved, the source said.

The man &quot;is refusing to speak to investigators for now&quot;, the source said, adding that investigators planned to question him again later today.

The suspect has been held at a Paris hospital since the attack near the museum on Friday morning.

Based on his phone and visa records, he is thought to be Abdallah El-Hamahmy, a 29-year-old Egyptian national living in the United Arab Emirates, who entered France legally on a flight from Dubai on January 26.

Investigators believe Hamahmy rented an expensive apartment near the Champs Elysees.

Investigators say the attacker, who was carrying two machetes and wearing a black T-shirt with a skull design, lunged at four soldiers shouting &quot;Allahu Akbar&quot; (&quot;God is greatest&quot;).

President Francois Hollande said that &quot;there is little doubt as to the terrorist nature of this act&quot;.

French investigators have contacted Egyptian officials in hopes of confirming the suspect&#39;s identity through DNA testing, a source close to the inquiry said.

They also plan to contact officials in the UAE and in Turkey, since Hamahmy&#39;s passport had two visas from Turkey, in 2015 and 2016.

Police are also examining Hamahmy&#39;s Twitter account after around a dozen messages were posted in Arabic just minutes before the attack.

&quot;In the name of Allah... For our brothers in Syria and fighters across the world,&quot; he wrote, before referring to the Islamic State jihadist group in another tweet a minute later.

Speaking to AFP in Cairo yesterday, a retired police general, Reda El-Hamahmy, said he believed the wounded suspect was his son, Abdallah, who had been in Paris on a business trip.

But he said there were no signs his son had been radicalised.

&quot;He went on a company trip and when it was over visited the museum. He was supposed to leave on Saturday,&quot; he told AFP, saying his son was married and his pregnant wife was currently staying in Saudi Arabia with their seven-month-old son.

Over the past two years, France has suffered a string of bloody attacks by Islamic extremists and has been under a state of emergency since November 2015. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The suspect, believed to be an Egyptian national, was shot in the stomach and seriously wounded after lunging at the soldiers with two machetes

French investigators began questioning today a suspect in the attack on soldiers at the Louvre Museum in Paris, but the man refused to speak, a judicial source said. The suspect, believed to be an Egyptian national, was shot in the stomach and seriously wounded after lunging at the soldiers with two machetes on Friday. The attack was the latest in a string of assaults in France and thrust the issue of security back into the headlines three months ahead of the French presidential election. Investigators decided to question him at his hospital bed after his condition improved, the source said. The man "is refusing to speak to investigators for now", the source said, adding that investigators planned to question him again later today. The suspect has been held at a Paris hospital since the attack near the museum on Friday morning. Based on his phone and visa records, he is thought to be Abdallah El-Hamahmy, a 29-year-old Egyptian national living in the United Arab Emirates, who entered France legally on a flight from Dubai on January 26. Investigators believe Hamahmy rented an expensive apartment near the Champs Elysees. Investigators say the attacker, who was carrying two machetes and wearing a black T-shirt with a skull design, lunged at four soldiers shouting "Allahu Akbar" ("God is greatest"). President Francois Hollande said that "there is little doubt as to the terrorist nature of this act". French investigators have contacted Egyptian officials in hopes of confirming the suspect's identity through DNA testing, a source close to the inquiry said. They also plan to contact officials in the UAE and in Turkey, since Hamahmy's passport had two visas from Turkey, in 2015 and 2016. Police are also examining Hamahmy's Twitter account after around a dozen messages were posted in Arabic just minutes before the attack. "In the name of Allah... For our brothers in Syria and fighters across the world," he wrote, before referring to the Islamic State jihadist group in another tweet a minute later. Speaking to AFP in Cairo yesterday, a retired police general, Reda El-Hamahmy, said he believed the wounded suspect was his son, Abdallah, who had been in Paris on a business trip. But he said there were no signs his son had been radicalised. "He went on a company trip and when it was over visited the museum. He was supposed to leave on Saturday," he told AFP, saying his son was married and his pregnant wife was currently staying in Saudi Arabia with their seven-month-old son. Over the past two years, France has suffered a string of bloody attacks by Islamic extremists and has been under a state of emergency since November 2015. (AFP)

French investigators grill suspect in Louvre Museum attack

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Watch | Protesters splash soup at iconic Mona Lisa painting at Louvre Museum in Paris

French investigators grill suspect in Louvre Museum attack