Man, 38, Arrested for Defacing Winston Churchill Statue with Controversial Graffiti

A 38-year-old man has been taken into custody after the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square was vandalized with graffiti overnight. The bronze statue in Westminster was defaced with red paint, displaying phrases such as “Zionist war criminal,” “Stop the Genocide,” and “Free Palestine.” Additional slogans included “Never again is Now” and “Globalise the Intifada.” Police from the Metropolitan force were notified shortly after 4 a.m. on Friday. The suspect, now under arrest, is being held on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage. Free the Filton 24, a Dutch-based group, claimed responsibility for the act. The organization, composed of family members and supporters of activists charged in connection with a reported 2024 break-in at a UK site linked to Israeli defense contractor Elbit, issued a statement about the incident. A man identifying himself as Olax Outis claimed personal accountability for the vandalism. Through a post shared on social media, he explained that the act aimed to draw attention to what he described as human rights violations and criticized the British government’s response to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. He further stated that Churchill’s statue was selected as a symbol of what he perceived to be wider political corruption. Cleanup operations began Friday morning, with the area surrounding the statue cordoned off. The Greater London Authority expressed strong disapproval of the act, stating officials were "appalled" by the graffiti and working to remove it promptly. Jewish community representatives also denounced the incident. The Jewish Leadership Council described the damage as “disgusting,” while the Board of Deputies of British Jews labeled the act offensive and deeply concerning. The 12-foot statue, crafted by Ivor Roberts-Jones and unveiled in 1973 by Lady Clementine Churchill, stands alongside monuments of prominent global figures such as Nelson Mandela and Abraham Lincoln in Parliament Square. This isn’t the first time Churchill’s statue has been targeted. In recent demonstrations, authorities warned that certain extremist-linked slogans could result in arrests. Both the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police issued such advisories last December. Investigations into this latest act of vandalism are ongoing.