Man arrested after Churchill statue in Parliament Square was defaced with ‘Zionist war criminal’ graffiti. Met Police launch probe; Downing Street condemns act.
Man arrested after Churchill statue in Parliament Square was defaced with ‘Zionist war criminal’ graffiti [Photo: X]
A fresh controversy erupted in central London after vandals defaced the statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square with pro-Palestinian slogans. Police arrested a 38-year-old man shortly after the incident, which unfolded in the early hours of Friday morning.
Authorities quickly secured the area as workers began removing red spray paint from the bronze monument. The graffiti included phrases such as “Free Palestine”, “Zionist war criminal”, “Stop the genocide”, “Never again is now” and “Globalise the intifada”. The incident has reignited debate in the UK over protest slogans, public monuments and the limits of political expression.
The vandal sprayed multiple messages across the statue and its base. Witnesses reported seeing red paint covering key portions of the monument in Parliament Square, Westminster. Among the phrases written were “Free Palestine” and “Zionist war criminal”. Protest-linked slogans including “Globalise the intifada”, “Never again is now” and “Stop the genocide” were also visible.
Police cordoned off the statue soon after the incident. Cleaning crews began restoration work on Friday morning to remove the paint without damaging the historic structure. The phrase “Globalise the intifada” has drawn particular scrutiny from law enforcement in recent months.
The 38-year-old suspect was detained on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage soon after the graffiti was reported. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed the arrest and said officers responded rapidly to the incident in Westminster. The suspect remains in custody while investigations continue.
The statue has been cordoned off, and cleaning efforts were underway on Friday morning to remove the paint from the historic monument.
The UK government quickly condemned the defacement. Downing Street described the act as “completely abhorrent” and a “disgrace,” saying that Sir Winston Churchill was a “great Briton” and that Britain will always uphold its values. Officials stressed that the perpetrator must be held to account.
Jewish community leaders also criticised the vandalism, calling it offensive and hurtful given Churchill’s role in World War II and his leadership against Nazi Germany. Some representatives highlighted concerns over linking the former prime minister to political slogans associated with current conflicts.
Sir Winston Churchill served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II and remains one of Britain’s most prominent historical figures.
He led Britain through its darkest wartime days and became known for his speeches that rallied the nation against Nazi Germany. Many historians credit his leadership with strengthening Allied resistance during the conflict.
However, Churchill’s legacy has also sparked debate in recent years, with critics revisiting aspects of Britain’s colonial history. The statue in Parliament Square honours his wartime leadership and national role.
The Churchill statue stands in Parliament Square, one of London’s most politically symbolic locations. The bronze monument was unveiled in 1973. It previously became a target during the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, when demonstrators defaced it with graffiti. Activists also climbed the statue during protests last year.
Last summer, the government made it a specific criminal offence to climb on Churchill’s statue. Offenders can face up to three months in prison and fines of up to £1,000. The monument also appears on a protected list that includes the Cenotaph in Whitehall and the Royal Artillery Memorial.
This latest defacement comes amid heightened public debate in the UK over political slogans and public safety. Police forces had already signalled tougher action against certain protest chants, including “Globalise the intifada,” due to concerns about public order and links — however indirect — to recent terror incidents.
The slogans painted on the Churchill statue tie directly into contemporary discourse around the Israel-Palestine conflict. Activist groups and supporters of pro-Palestinian causes have increasingly taken to visible public sites to express their positions. However, defacing protected monuments can lead to criminal charges and significant penalties under UK law.
Churchill’s statue, one of several prominent memorials in and around Parliament Square, has become a flashpoint in wider discussions about how historical figures are represented and remembered in public spaces. The monument sits alongside statues of global leaders and thinkers, including Nelson Mandela, Abraham Lincoln and Mahatma Gandhi.
The incident is likely to fuel renewed debates about the limits of protest, freedom of expression and the protection of national heritage, especially as political tensions remain high around global issues such as the Middle East crisis.
