AN environmental campaigner tried to make a citizen’s arrest on a former US official at the Hay Festival last night, according to reports.

Event sponsors the Guardian said George Monbiot tried to make the arrest on John Bolton for alleged war crimes involved with the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The paper said Mr Bolton, a former US ambassador to the UN, had just finished an hour-long discussion on international relations when Mr Monbiot attempted the arrest.

It said security staff intervened and bundled Mr Monbiot out of the tent while 20 supporters chanted “war criminal” and waved placards.

Comedian Marcus Brigstocke was also stopped by security as he tried to follow Mr Bolton out of the other side of the tent, said the report.

Mr Monbiot was qouted as saying: “I’m disappointed I couldn’t reach him, but I made what I believe to be the first attempt ever to arrest one of the perpetrators of the Iraq war, and I would like that to be followed up.”