Churchill statue defaced with ‘globalise the Intifada’ graffiti in London, police arrest suspect

A 12-foot bronze statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, Westminster was defaced early Friday with a series of politically charged slogans, including “Globalise the Intifada,” “Free Palestine,” “Stop the Genocide,” and “Zionist war criminal,” police and witness accounts confirmed.

The graffiti was sprayed in bright red paint across the statue and its stone plinth just metres from the Houses of Parliament, transforming a revered national monument into a stark symbol of ongoing tensions over the Israel–Palestine conflict. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service responded within minutes of being alerted shortly after 4 am and arrested a 38-year-old man on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage.

The words “Globalise the Intifada” have recently been at the centre of UK law enforcement scrutiny, with both the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police warning that chanting the phrase at protests could lead to arrest following terror attacks in Australia and at a Manchester synagogue.

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Westminster City Council quickly cordoned off the area and cleaning crews began efforts to remove the paint as dawn broke. A spokesman said the city was “appalled” by the vandalism and sought a rapid restoration of the monument.

Arrest and mixed reactions across the UK

The suspect remains in custody as police continue their investigation, with early indications pointing to possible motivations tied to the broader West Asia conflict. A Dutch group calling itself Free the Filton 24 claimed responsibility on social media, posting footage of a man in red coveralls apparently spraying the slogans. The group describes itself as allied with Palestine Action activists and critical of UK ties to Israel’s defence sector, according to online posts.

Political reactions were swift and polarised. Senior MPs and community leaders condemned the vandalism as an attack not just on a historical figure but on British values. Conservative Party figures labelled the act “disgusting” and insisted perpetrators should be held fully accountable under the law. Others, particularly on social media, noted the incident as part of an ongoing debate about Churchill’s complex legacy, a wartime leader whose imperialist policies and statements on race have drawn criticism alongside widespread admiration for his role in defeating Nazism.

The Metropolitan Police reiterated that the arrest was made on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage, a serious offence that could lead to significant legal consequences if charges are pursued. Officers continue to review footage and seek further evidence, including any links between the defendant and organised protest movements.

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Monument under spotlight amid polarised climate

Churchill’s statue, unveiled in 1973 and one of several monuments to global leaders in Parliament Square, has been targeted multiple times over the years. It was daubed with graffiti accusing the wartime leader of racism during Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020, and later in the same year was defaced by an Extinction Rebellion activist.

This latest incident, however, stands out for its explicit connection to the heated international debate over Gaza and Israel’s policies. The invocation of slogans like “Stop the Genocide” and “Globalise the Intifada” — terms loaded with associations to armed resistance and global solidarity movements — has reignited questions about how far protest rhetoric can cross into criminality, especially in a city as politically symbolic as Westminster.

As the statue is cleaned and investigations continue, the incident highlights the enduring power of public monuments to provoke not only reflection on history but also fierce contemporary disagreements. Tensions over Middle East policy, free expression, and national identity appear set to shape public discourse well beyond this isolated act of vandalism.