London police have taken a man into custody after an act of vandalism involving red paint on the offices of a weapons company in Piccadilly, west London. The headquarters of Leonardo, located in Eagle Place, was the target of this incident. The facade of the building was marred with paint, and slogans such as “Free Gaza” were sprayed onto it.
Palestine Action, an activist group, has claimed responsibility for the act. Visuals circulating on social media show another individual on the building’s canopy holding a red flare.
This incident has taken place against the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the Middle East, which erupted on 7 October. This was initiated by a significant assault by Hamas on Israel, leading to a retaliatory military response from Israel. The conflict has so far claimed the lives of more than 1,400 Israelis and over 9,000 Palestinians.
The Metropolitan Police communicated through X, formerly known as Twitter, that a man has been arrested under suspicion of causing criminal damage. They also added that another individual is currently atop the canopy of the building’s entrance. The police are in the process of bringing this individual down safely, following which he will be arrested for any potential infractions.
