Ten Barclays sites across the UK including management centres and local branches have been defaced with red paint and had their windows smashed as part of a coordinated attack by pro-Palestine protesters.
London branches in Angel, Mayfair, Whitechapel, East Ham, and Hammersmith were targeted, as well as a branch in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, and one in Edinburgh.
Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells takes it out on Barclays…
— David Friend (@David_Friend01) September 12, 2024
Jam jar full of paint…orange-ish paint. pic.twitter.com/bf73MpeY1e
Anti-Israel activist group Palestine Action has claimed responsibility for the vandalism, writing on X: “BREAKING: Palestine Action target over 10 Barclays sites across the country, from management centres to local branches.
BREAKING: Palestine Action target over 10 Barclays sites across the country, from management centres to local branches.
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) September 12, 2024
The bank continues to invest in Israel's biggest weapons producer, Elbit Systems — our primary target. pic.twitter.com/R30hxci9mN
“The bank continues to invest in Israel's biggest weapons producer, Elbit Systems — our primary target.”
The protest group’s stated mission is to dismantle “British complicity with Israeli apartheid”.
Claiming responsibility for last night’s incidents, the account tweeted: “Invest in Israel’s biggest weapons producer? Expect Palestine Action.”
Barclays Edinburgh branch got targeted overnight – as did 10 other premises belonging to the bank.
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) September 12, 2024
Invest in Israel's biggest weapons producer? Expect Palestine Action. pic.twitter.com/x4doukllml
The words “Free Palestine” and “Drop Elbit” were graffitied in red paint on the outside of the branch near Angel, Islington, where the entire pane of glass at the front of the store was smashed in. The police were seen cordoning off the front of the building this morning.
Barclays bank, Essex Rd, London, has had its windows smashed in and the words “Free Palestine” graffitied on a door. This morning, police were cordoning off the front of the building. pic.twitter.com/eLcNpg4sGQ
— Jason Rodrigues (@RodriguesJasonL) September 12, 2024
An inverted red triangle, a symbol used by Hamas in videos and pictures to mark targets for attack, was graffitied on the front of the building.
The walls, entrance and the ATMs of the Barclays in Edinburgh on Princes Street were defaced with red paint, and “Drop Elbit” was sprawled in graffiti on the bank’s front.
What is the point of this vandalism at Barclays in Princes Street? What difference does it make to someone’s cause? Why not target every single bank that holds money for crooks, criminals and terrorists? #thisisedinburgh pic.twitter.com/RAOxrOvqze
— Kenny R Kemp (@KennyRKemp) September 12, 2024
This is not the first time Barclays has been targeted by anti-Israel activists. Earlier this year in June, 20 branches across the UK were vandalised in a coordinated effort by Palestine Action and the protest group Shut the System.
Palestine Action has been behind a number of disruptive incidents since October. In March, a protester from the group videoed themselves destroying an over 100-year-old painting depicting Lord Arthur Balfour in Trinity College Cambridge.
A Barclays spokesperson said: “Protest groups have criticised Barclays for providing financial services to defence companies which is a sector we remain committed to as an essential part of keeping this country and our allies safe.
“They have resorted to intimidating our staff, repeated vandalism of our branches and online harassment.
“The safety of our colleagues and customers is our priority and we have additional measures in place such as increased security presence and surveillance technology.”
In August, five activists from Palestine Action were sentenced to a total of five years and two months after causing over £1 million pounds worth of damage to Thales UK, an arms factory based in Scotland, in 2022.
Metropolitan Police has been contacted for comment.
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