Just Stop Oil protesters have twice interrupted play on the third day of Wimbledon, releasing orange ticker-tape mixed with jigsaw puzzle pieces during matches on Court 18.
The first incident involved two protesters running on to the court holding boxes marked as 1000-piece jigsaws of Centre Court, before sprinkling the contents, halting play between Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and Japan's Sho Shimabukuro.
One of the protesters covered the court liberally, while the other one aimed mainly wide of the tramlines.
Security staff quickly removed the individuals, one of whom sat down crosslegged on the turf. Neither resisted.
The crowd booed the protesters with some heard shouting "Get off". Ground staff then swept the court and there appeared to be no damage.
Shortly after the protest, rain returned and the covers were dragged across the court.
Later, on the same showcourt, which is overlooked by a terrace used by television broadcasters, the match between Britain's Katie Boulter and Australian Daria Saville was also briefly halted by a similar incident.
This time, one protester sprinkled ticker-tape on the court, before being dragged away by three security staff.
Play resumed after the material was swept away, with both players helping to clear the court.
"It was obviously a little bit of a shock to the system," Boulter said after her win. "I think we both handled it really well.
"It's a really unfortunate situation for everyone."
She did express some sympathy for the cause.
"It's not my field of expertise," she said. "I don't know enough about it.
"I would say that I think we all sympathise with what they're going through completely. At the same time, I don't know if it's the right place or time."
Wimbledon organisers and Metropolitan Police say two male and one female protester were in custody on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage.
Home secretary Suella Braverman has condemned the actions of the protesters and says she has chaired a meeting at Downing Street with representatives of various sports organisations.
"The protesters at Wimbledon were determined to ruin the day's play for spectators and sports fans across the world," she said.
"This is unacceptable. We will be uncompromisingly tough on the selfish protesters intent on spoiling our world-class sporting occasions this summer."
Security had been beefed up for the grasscourt Grand Slam, one of the jewels of the British sporting summer, after a spate of protests at high-level events in Britain.
However, the events had an air if inevitability, such is the nature of Wimbledon and organisers will hope that Just Stop Oil do not have any more stunts planned.
The environmental group disrupted the second Ashes cricket test at Lord's last week, attempting to spread orange powder on the wicket. They also intervened in this year's Premiership Rugby final and the world snooker championship at Sheffield, where they smeared orange powder over a table.
This year's Grand National horse race was also disrupted, after animal rights activists attached themselves to fences.
Reuters
