Spanish environmental activists damaged the columns of the Sagrada Familia (Basilica of the Holy Family), a landmark of Barcelona, Spain, by throwing paint on it ahead of its completion scheduled for next year.

Spanish environmental activists spray paint (red circles) on the columns of the iconic building in Barcelona, Spain, the Sagrada Familia (the Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family), and are stopped by security guards./Courtesy of the Spanish environmental organization 'Futuro Vegetal'

According to AFP on the 31st (local time), two activists from the Spanish environmental group "Futuro Vegetal" sprayed red and black paint on the lower part of the external columns of Sagrada Familia and shouted for "climate justice."

They were soon blocked by security personnel and are currently reported to be in custody.

The group posted a video of the incident on their social media account, stating, "Governments are evading responsibility for the wildfires that swept through the Iberian Peninsula this summer. We sprayed colorful powder on the exterior of Sagrada Familia to protest this."

The group also stated in a subsequent declaration, "Through this protest, we expose the current government's lack of response to the climate crisis and the resulting impacts that led to the wildfires sweeping across Spain and much of Europe this summer."

According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), four people have died from wildfires in Spain this year, and over 382,000 hectares (3,820 square kilometers) have been burned, an area more than twice the size of Greater London. This is the largest damage recorded since statistics began in 2006, equivalent to 6.3 times the area of Seoul (605 square kilometers).

The Spanish government classified the recent wildfires as "one of the largest environmental disasters the country has witnessed in recent years" and acknowledged a link to climate change. However, some of the wildfires are believed to be man-made.

The Sagrada Familia, which the group targeted this time, is a major tourist attraction in Barcelona designed by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site, attracting 5 million visitors annually.

Since its groundbreaking in 1882, the Sagrada Familia has been under construction for over 100 years and is expected to be completed next year, marking 144 years since it started and the 100th anniversary of Gaudí's death, with the central "Tower of Jesus Christ" reaching 172.5 meters.

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