Pro-Palestinian protesters have targeted Barclays across Britain, smashing windows and throwing red paint over bank branches in London, Bristol and Manchester.
Shocking photos show that all the windows are in a branch in central Bristol have been vandalized and sprayed with graffiti during the coordinated attack.
Palestine Action said its activists joined in smashing the windows of the bank in Broadmead Barclays has branches across the country, from Glasgow to Brighton.
The group said it was taking action to demand that the bank “withdraw from the Israeli arms trade and fossil fuels.”
On X they claimed to have closed ‘twenty Barclays branches’ in England and Scotland with their antics.
BRISTOL: Pro-Palestinian protesters have targeted Barclays across Britain, smashing windows and throwing red paint over bank branches
BRISTOL: Giant shards of glass protrude from the remains of the shattered window
WESTMINSTER: Branch cash machines are covered in red paint
CROYDON: A Barclays sign in Croydon next to the branch was splashed with paint
BRISTOL: The windows of the Barclays Bank branch in the city center have been smashed
PECKHAM: The scene at the Barclays bank in Peckham after several branches were attacked
RICHMOND: Red paint was thrown over this ATM at a Barclays bank in Richmond
BRISTOL: A police officer is on the scene after a department was targeted by activists
BURY: Forensic officers and a police cordon were present outside the Barclays bank in Bury, Manchester, this morning after the group attacked the bank with paint
BURY: A cracked window in a Barclays bank in Manchester, dripping with red paint
City of London Police said three men, aged between 34 and 45, were arrested this morning in connection with criminal damage at Barclays on Moorgate.
A message on X from the force read: ‘They were spotted on CCTV by our control and officers were sent to the scene. After a short foot chase, three men were arrested.’
A spokesperson for Palestine Action said: ‘Barclays is funding the crises of climate collapse and genocide in Palestine.
‘Decades of polite campaigning, petitioning, writing letters and lobbying MPs have failed.
‘We will continue to escalate until Barclays pulls its finger and stops funding genocide and climate destruction.
Activists also spray-painted the names of Palestinians killed in the Israeli military action in Gaza on the walls of the Barclays branch.
A Barclays spokesperson said: ‘We provide essential financial services to US, UK and European government companies that supply defense products to NATO and its allies.
CROYDON: Holes can be seen in broken windows in Croydon this morning
WESTMINSTER: Barclays Bank’s St Johns Wood branch is left with its doors and windows smashed and the exterior covered in red paint
BURY: A table and board were left covered in the paint thrown at the bench
BURY: A police cordon has been set up outside the Barclays bank in Bury, Manchester, following the protest
BURY: Barclays bank in Bury, Manchester, this morning, which was targeted by activists
BRISTOL: Red paint was thrown over the Bristol city center branch in protest
BRISTOL: A woman carefully makes her way across the shattered and stained broken window glass
‘Barclays does not invest directly in these companies.
‘The defense sector is fundamental to our national security and the UK Government has made it clear that supporting defense companies is compatible with ESG considerations.
“Decisions on the implementation of arms embargoes against other countries are the responsibility of the respective elected governments.
“While we support the right to protest, we ask that activists do so in a way that respects our customers, colleagues and property.”