Winston Churchill Statue Defaced in London with Pro-Palestinian Messages

Vandalism Incident in Parliament Square

In the early hours of Friday, a statue of Winston Churchill, the former Prime Minister of the UK, was vandalized in central London with graffiti supporting Palestine. The Metropolitan Police responded quickly, arresting a 38-year-old man shortly after 4 AM on charges of racially aggravated criminal damage. Officers apprehended him while he was allegedly applying red paint to the statue located in Parliament Square, adjacent to the Houses of Parliament.

Messages Found on the Statue

Authorities reported that several slogans were spray-painted on the 12-foot bronze statue, including:

• “Zionist war criminal”
• “Stop the genocide”
• “Free Palestine”
• “Never again is now”
• “Globalise the intifada”

Following the incident, the area was cordoned off, and cleanup efforts commenced promptly, as confirmed by officials.

Claim of Responsibility by Activist Group

A Dutch activist organization named “Free the Filton 24” has taken responsibility for the act. A representative from the group stated that their intention was to highlight what they view as human rights abuses and the policies of the British government. While the police have not publicly identified the suspect, they confirmed that he remains in custody.

Official Reactions to the Vandalism

The vandalism has drawn strong condemnation from UK officials:

• A spokesperson for the Greater London Authority labeled the act as “appalling.”
• Downing Street referred to it as “a disgrace” and “completely abhorrent,” emphasizing the need for accountability for those involved.

Unveiled in 1973 and crafted by Ivor Roberts-Jones, the Churchill statue has faced previous acts of vandalism during protests, including those related to the Black Lives Matter movement and climate activism in 2020.