Churchill Statue in London Vandalized with Anti-Zionist and Pro-Palestine Graffiti; Man Arrested

Winston Churchill Statue Defaced in Parliament Square

The statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, Westminster, London, was vandalized with graffiti in the early hours of Friday, February 27, 2026. The bronze monument was sprayed with red paint, featuring phrases such as 'Zionist war criminal,' 'Stop the Genocide,' 'Free Palestine,' 'Globalise the intifada,' and 'Never again is Now.'

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest of a 38-year-old man shortly after 4:00 AM UTC, on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage. He was later further arrested on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organization, Palestine Action. Officers were reportedly on the scene within two minutes of the incident.

Official Condemnation and Group Claims Responsibility

The vandalism drew swift condemnation from UK officials. Downing Street described the incident as 'completely abhorrent' and a 'disgrace,' with a spokesperson stating, 'Churchill was a great Briton, and this government will always stand up for our values. The perpetrator must be held to account.' A Home Office spokesperson also called the vandals a 'disgrace.' The Jewish Leadership Council expressed its disgust at the defacement.

The Dutch activist group 'Free the Filton 24' claimed responsibility for the act. A member of the group, identified as Olax Outis, stated in a prerecorded Instagram post that he was behind the vandalism, aiming 'to draw attention to the horrible human rights violations happening in a country that's run by colonisers who refuse to listen to their people.'

Previous Incidents and Cleaning Efforts

The 12-foot statue, unveiled in 1973 by Churchill's widow Clementine, has been a frequent target for protesters over the years. Notable past incidents include:

• Graffiti accusing Churchill of being a 'racist' during Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020.
• Defacement by an Extinction Rebellion activist in October 2020.

Last summer, the government made it a specific criminal offense to climb on Churchill's statue, with offenders facing potential prison sentences of up to three months and fines of up to £1,000. The statue is also on a list of protected monuments.

Following the latest incident, the statue was cordoned off, and cleaning crews were actively working to remove the red paint from the historic monument throughout Friday morning.