The statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square in Westminster was defaced overnight with graffiti, including the phrase “Zionist war criminal.” A 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage and remains in custody.
Vandalism and Arrest
Officers from the Metropolitan Police responded to the scene shortly after 4am on Friday. The statue was spray-painted with phrases including “Stop the Genocide,” “Free Palestine,” “Never again is Now,” and “Globalise the Intifada.”
The statue has been cordoned off and was being cleaned Friday morning. This is not the first instance of vandalism targeting the monument; it was previously defaced during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests and by trans activists last year.
Reactions to the Defacement
Dave Rich, director of policy for Community Security Trust, noted the presence of a Hamas red triangle within the graffiti when sharing an image on X. The Jewish Leadership Council expressed disgust, stating the act combined “a hatred of Jews with a disdain for Britain.”
Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, described the act as a defacement of “one of the greatest champions for liberty, who defeated the Nazis,” and noted the inversion of “Zionism, the national liberation movement of the Jewish people.”
Last December, the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police announced that anyone chanting “globalise the intifada” would face arrest, following terror attacks in Bondi Beach, and Manchester.
Frequently Asked Questions
What slogans were used in the graffiti?
The graffiti included the phrases “Zionist war criminal,” “Stop the Genocide,” “Free Palestine,” “Never again is Now,” and “Globalise the Intifada.”
Has the Churchill statue been targeted before?
Yes, the statue has been vandalised several times in the past, including during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 and by trans activists last year.
When was the statue originally unveiled?
The statue was unveiled in 1973 by Lady Clementine Churchill.
What impact this incident will have on future protests or security measures around Parliament Square remains to be seen.
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