Arrest Made After Churchill Statue Defaced With Pro Palestine Graffiti in Parliament Square

Police have arrested after the statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square was defaced with red paint and pro Palestine slogans in an incident that has sparked political condemnation across Westminster.

The Metropolitan Police said a 38 year old man was detained on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage after officers were called to the scene in the early hours of the morning. Police confirmed that officers arrived within minutes of the report.

The bronze statue of the former prime minister was sprayed with graffiti branding Churchill a Zionist war criminal, along with phrases including Stop the Genocide and Free Palestine. Additional graffiti reading Never again is Now and Globalise the Intifada was also reported.

Authorities later confirmed that the same man was further arrested on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action, a direct action group that has previously targeted sites linked to Israel based defence company Elbit Systems. It is believed to be the first arrest of this kind since a High Court ruling found the government’s attempt to ban the group under anti terrorism legislation to be unlawful.

Despite that ruling, the ban remains in place while the Home Office pursues an appeal. On Thursday, the department was granted permission to challenge the court’s decision.

The statue, which stands in Parliament Square alongside monuments to other historic political figures, has been vandalised multiple times in recent years. Churchill remains a deeply symbolic figure in British political history, widely credited for his leadership during the Second World War.

Cleaners were seen scrubbing red paint from the statue and its plinth on Friday morning, with specialist contractors working to remove the damage.

A spokesperson for 10 Downing Street described the incident as completely abhorrent and said the perpetrator must be held to account. A Home Office spokesperson added that Churchill is a figure of great national pride and condemned those responsible for defacing the monument.

Dutch based activist group Free the Filton 24 claimed responsibility for the action on social media, posting a video that appeared to show a man spraying the statue. The group identifies itself as family and friends of activists previously charged over a break in at a UK site linked to Elbit in 2024.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the UK related to the conflict in Gaza, with protests and counter protests taking place in London in recent months. Police have faced increasing pressure to balance the right to protest with the protection of public order and historic landmarks.

Parliament Square remains open to the public, but officers are expected to maintain an increased presence in the area as investigations continue.