Churchill Statue in Parliament Square Defaced with 'Zionist War Criminal' Graffiti

The statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, London, was defaced early on Friday morning with graffiti branding the former prime minister a "Zionist war criminal." The vandalism also included the phrases "Stop the Genocide," "Free Palestine," "Never again is Now," and "Globalise the Intifada" sprayed in red paint on the bronze monument.

A 38-year-old man was arrested by Metropolitan Police officers within minutes of the incident, which was reported shortly after 4am. He remains in custody on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage. A Dutch activist group, Free the Filton 24, claimed responsibility, posting a video appearing to show the act on Instagram.

The vandalism drew swift condemnation from political leaders. A Downing Street spokesperson described it as "completely abhorrent," stating: "Churchill was a great Briton. This government will always stand up for our values and the perpetrator must be held to account." The Home Office echoed this, calling the vandals "a disgrace".

Jewish organisations strongly criticised the act. The Jewish Leadership Council expressed disgust, saying the perpetrator combined "a hatred of Jews with a disdain for Britain." Phil Rosenberg of the Board of Deputies of British Jews noted the irony of defacing a leader who "defeated the Nazis."

The statue was cordoned off for cleaning on Friday morning. It has been targeted previously, including during 2020 Black Lives Matter protests and an Extinction Rebellion action in October 2020.

The incident follows recent police guidance that chanting "globalise the intifada" could lead to arrest, a policy implemented after terrorist attacks in Sydney and Manchester last year.