By Tony O’Reilly-
Barclays bank branches across England and Scotland have been targeted by a pro-Palestine group, Palestine Action, in a coordinated protest.
Up to 20 buildings have been vandalized, with windows smashed and red paint splashed across facades. The group stated that the actions were carried out to “demand the bank divests from Israel’s weapons trade and fossil fuels.”
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A spokesperson for Barclays responded, “While we support the right to protest, we ask that campaigners do so in a way which respects our customers, colleagues and property.”
In Bristol, the city center branch of Barclays Bank saw its windows smashed and red graffiti sprayed over the building. Similar scenes were reported in Edinburgh, where rocks inscribed with the names of Palestinians killed in the conflict were thrown at a Barclays building.
City of London police reported the arrest of three men, aged between 34 and 45, in connection with criminal damage at the Moorgate branch on Monday morning.
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Other targeted branches include those in St John’s Wood, Croydon, Richmond, Peckham, Stockport, Bury, Preston, Glasgow, Brighton, Exeter, Sheffield, Northampton, Birmingham, and Solihull.
The protests come amidst heightened tensions following Hamas’ attacks on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the taking of around 251 hostages.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported a death toll of 37,084 people in the territory.
Palestine Action, partnering with the newly formed underground climate movement Shut the System, has vowed to continue these targeted actions until Barclays ceases its investments in specific companies.
A Barclays spokesperson defended the bank’s activities, stating, “The bank provides vital financial services to US, UK, and European public companies that supply defence products to NATO and its allies.
‘The defence sector is fundamental to our national security, and the UK government has been clear that supporting defence companies is compatible with ESG considerations. Decisions on the implementation of arms embargoes to other nations are the job of respective elected governments’.
“While we support the right to protest, we ask that campaigners do so in a way which respects our customers, colleagues and property.”
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