Metropolitan Police Arrest Man After Churchill Statue Defaced with Graffiti
A 38-year-old suspect remains in custody following the early morning targeting of the Parliament Square landmark with pro-Palestine slogans
Image: Matt Weston / AI
Carla Rooney
Metropolitan Police officers arrested a 38-year-old man on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage after the Winston Churchill statue in Westminster was defaced with spray-painted slogans.
The graffiti scrawled across the monument included the phrases 'Zionist war criminal,' 'Stop the Genocide,' and 'Globalise the Intifada.'
At the base of the statue, the words 'Greetings from the Hague' appeared in Dutch alongside the message 'Never again is Now.'
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest of a 38-year-old man who remains in custody. Investigators sweep the site for further evidence while police units maintain a visible, heavy presence in Westminster.
The vandalism represents a direct assault on democracy itself.
This digital sweep now extends to the surrounding government buildings as the Metropolitan Police review CCTV footage.
Officers are tracking the movements of the individual prior to the arrest at the heart of the government district.
The Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police have issued a joint stance on the specific language used in the attack.
Both forces confirmed that any individuals chanting or displaying the slogan 'globalise the intifada' will face immediate arrest.
Political figures reacted swiftly to the targeting of the Parliament Square landmark.
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge described Churchill as the greatest champion of freedom in British history while condemning the physical assault on the site.
Deputy Chair of the Conservatives Matt Vickers characterised the act as an attack on the country, its culture, and its history.
Vickers further stated that the vandalism represents a direct assault on democracy itself.
The statue, sculpted by Ivor Roberts-Jones, has occupied its central position facing the Houses of Parliament since its unveiling in 1973.
Its prominent location makes it a frequent focal point for political expression and public demonstration.
History shows this monument is a recurring target, having been vandalised several times during past civil unrest.
During the 2020 protests, authorities encased the monument in a protective metal box to prevent physical damage from reaching the bronze.
Public reaction surfaced rapidly as images of the defaced monument circulated through digital channels.
Users labelled the act as 'awful' and 'disgusting' while calling for increased security around national monuments.
The use of red paint and specific references to The Hague connects the act to ongoing international legal scrutiny regarding global conflicts.
The juxtaposition of 'Never again is Now' against wartime slogans marks a shift in the nature of the graffiti seen at this site.
The Metropolitan Police have not yet released the identity of the 38-year-old man.
Officers are focusing on the racially aggravated nature of the damage as part of their primary investigation.
Specialised equipment arrived with cleaning crews to ensure the chemicals in the spray paint did not permanently etch the bronze and stone.
By midday, workers lifted much of the red pigment from the plinth.
Security around Parliament Square remains a point of contention for local officials and heritage groups.
The repeated nature of these incidents has prompted renewed calls for permanent surveillance or physical barriers.
This arrest follows a period of heightened tension regarding public demonstrations in central London.
Police have tightened their enforcement of specific slogans deemed to incite violence or racial hatred.
The Metropolitan Police continue to seek witnesses who may have been in the Westminster area during the early hours of Friday morning.
The suspect's movements and the racially aggravated nature of the damage remain the focus of the investigating team.