Churchill Statue in London Vandalized with Anti-Israel Messages by Activist Group
What happened
In the early hours of Feb. 27, the statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square was covered in red paint and tagged with political slogans. The markings appeared on both the statue and its plinth and included several strong messages written in English and words that looked Dutch.
Photos circulating from the scene showed bold red lettering across the monument and passersby taking pictures the next day.
Who claimed responsibility
A group identifying itself as Free the Filton 24 NL took credit for the action on social media. A posted statement featured a man who said he was from the Netherlands and described the visit to London as part of the group’s campaign.
The group’s post named the action and linked the slogans painted on the statue to its protest aims.
Police response and the immediate aftermath
Officers arrived at the scene within minutes after being alerted shortly after 4 a.m. A 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage and taken into custody.
Authorities and city crews were left to deal with the cleanup and the wider public reaction to a high-profile monument being used as a canvas for protest messages.