'We got the response we wanted': Just Stop Oil activist arrested for snooker protest breaks silence
A zealot who brought a World Championship snooker match to a standstill by jumping on the table and covering it in orange powder has broken his silence after he was bailed. Eco-fanatic Edred Whittingham, 25, boasted that the stunt got 'exactly the response we hoped' after he and a fellow protester caused chaos during the live match on Monday. The protester, who had previously been arrested six times and has crowdfunded to support his activist lifestyle, was blasted as 'selfish' by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak over his behaviour at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, adding that he would continue to protest. Speaking publicly for the first time since being released by police, Exeter University student Whittingham said: 'By disrupting the snooker, we got exactly the response we hoped for: mass publicity, millions of conversations and hundreds of people signing up for action. 'Until the Government does the right thing and ends all new fossil fuel licenses and consents, direct action will continue to have a role in keeping the issue salient and at the forefront of the national (and international) conversation.' Whittingham, who is studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Exeter University, was bailed on Tuesday after being held on suspicion of causing criminal damage. He was one of two protestors who caused havoc during a first-round match between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry at 7.20 pm on Monday. They were dragged away from the tables, leaving staff to clean orange powder off the floor and the table before play could resume. Just Stop Oil have carried out a number of high-profile stunts, including gluing themselves to expensive pieces of artwork and blocking roads. The group is demanding an end to all new fossil fuel projects, which are one of the largest contributors to global warming and climate change. Whittingham admitted he did 'feel sorry' for fans who had come to watch day three of the tournament, but insisted the impending climate crisis was more important. He went on: 'We're all at risk from the climate crisis. People's lives are literally at stake and the government is doing nothing remotely proportionate. Of course, I feel sorry for the people we disrupted. 'Under normal circumstances, this would be completely unacceptable, but these aren't normal circumstances, and it's their future on the line as well.' Some of the most stinging criticism of Whittingham's actions came from Rishi Sunak, who told him he should be 'ashamed' of his behaviour. But the student, who has previously been arrested six times, vowed to continue his protest and said he didn't fear being sent to prison again. He said: 'I've been to prison. It wasn't pleasant, but I fear it far less than what the climate crisis will bring in terms of mass-starvation, billions of climate refugees and the horror and violence of societal collapse.' Whittingham grew up in the leafy suburb of Cambridge in a 600,000 property, reportedly to a venture capitalist dad and a dentist mother. Recently he has crowdfunded money for his protests, asking his supporters to chip in cash so he can 'focus on his activism' rather than getting a 'job in a pub'. But he said attacks labelling him a 'posh protester' were emerging because his critics weren't prepared to engage with the climate crisis. He added: 'When you start attacking a supporter's family, you've lost the argument!' Following Whittingham's protest, viewers voiced their anger at the disruption to their live coverage on BBC4 and Eurosport. Shocked Brenda Birch, 81, who was watching the snooker on TV at home in Walsall, West Midlands, said: 'I just don't know what the world is coming to. 'These protestors are not going to endear decent people to their cause by disrupting such a popular event as the snooker. 'They are just publicity hungry and have no fear of any repercussions.' Just Stop Oil is part of a coalition of 'nonviolent civil resistive groups' which are demanding that the UK Government stop licensing new oil, gas and coal projects. There are fears the group could try and disrupt the London marathon on Saturday, and . A Just Stop Oil spokesperson, Anna Holland, was asked on GB News whether they would 'like to rule out on air' that the group would not disrupt the coronation. Ms Holland, from Newcastle, replied: 'I think it's an incredibly important thing to note that when you say Just Stop Oil's tactics aren't working, the fact that we liked a post on Twitter has made national news. 'If that doesn't show that our disruption is working - we're getting the climate crisis into mainstream conversation - I don't know what does.' But presenter Isabel Webster said: 'That doesn't answer the question. I'm not asking you right now about your effectiveness, I'm asking you will you be disrupting the coronation of King Charles III?' Ms Holland said: 'I can't answer that, I'm sorry.' It comes after the group raised fears they could target the May 6 event after 'liking' a map of the route on Twitter - and just days after one of their zealots brought a snooker game to a halt. In March this year, 25 of its members glued themselves to the road outside Buckingham Palace, resulting in more than two hours of disruption. Activists have also previously stuck themselves to priceless artworks, along with hurling tins of soup at Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers at the National Gallery, in London.