Man Arrested After Winston Churchill Statue Defaced with 'Free Palestine' Graffiti in London
A 38-year-old man has been arrested following the defacement of the Winston Churchill statue in Parliament Square, London, with red paint and pro-Palestine graffiti overnight. The bronze monument, located in Westminster, was sprayed with phrases including "Zionist war criminal", "Stop the Genocide", and "Free Palestine". Additional slogans such as "Never again is Now" and "Globalise the Intifada" were also visible on the statue.
Police Response and Arrest Details
Officers from the Metropolitan Police were alerted to the incident shortly after 4 a.m. on Friday. The suspect was subsequently arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage and remains in police custody. Investigations into the vandalism are ongoing, with authorities working to gather evidence and assess the full extent of the damage.
Claim of Responsibility and Motivations
A Dutch-based group known as Free the Filton 24 claimed responsibility for the action. The group describes itself as comprising relatives and supporters of activists charged over a 2024 break-in at a UK site linked to Israeli defence firm Elbit. In a social media statement, a man identifying himself as Olax Outis asserted that he carried out the vandalism. He stated that the act was intended to highlight what he termed human rights abuses and to criticise the British government's stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Outis also explained that the Churchill statue was targeted because he believes it represents broader political corruption.
Condemnation from Authorities and Community Groups
A spokesperson for the Greater London Authority condemned the damage, expressing that officials were "appalled" and are working diligently to remove the graffiti as quickly as possible. The statue was cordoned off on Friday morning to facilitate clean-up efforts. Jewish community organisations also voiced strong criticism of the incident. The Jewish Leadership Council described being "disgusted" by the defacement, while the Board of Deputies of British Jews labelled the act as offensive and deeply troubling.
Historical Context and Previous Incidents
The 12-foot monument, created by sculptor Ivor Roberts-Jones and unveiled in 1973 by Lady Clementine Churchill, stands among several statues of prominent global figures in Parliament Square, including Nelson Mandela and Abraham Lincoln. This is not the first time Churchill's statue has been targeted in protests. In December, both the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police issued warnings that chanting certain protest slogans linked to extremism could lead to arrests, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding such demonstrations.
The incident underscores the complex interplay between political activism, public monuments, and community relations in urban settings. As clean-up continues, authorities are focused on restoring the statue and ensuring public safety, while the broader implications of the protest actions remain a topic of discussion among policymakers and civil society groups.
