Activist arrested for Mandelson custard attack

An environmental activist who threw green custard at Business Secretary Peter Mandelson has been arrested and bailed, police said yesterday. Leila Deen, 29, was arrested on Saturday and bailed to return to a central London police station in April.

Ms Deen, from the environmental group Plane Stupid, threw a cup of the liquid over Lord Mandelson as he arrived for a low-carbon industry summit in London on Friday.

She attacked Lord Mandelson because of his support for a new third runway at Heathrow airport and over what she said was the government's hypocritical stance on climate change.

The high-profile stunt has rekindled concerns over the level of security ministers should have.

Former deputy prime minister John Prescott said the matter should be investigated and had urged that Ms Deen be arrested.

Asked on the BBC's Andrew Marr show yesterday whether he was troubled by the security breach, Lord Mandelson said: "It could have been something nastier. It did actually leave a slight sort of irritation on my face."

"I was slightly surprised that she could just saunter off without being apprehended. It's a bit surprising, but we do not live in a police state in Britain and thank goodness for it."