Barclays bank branches vandalized by pro-Palestinian and climate activists

About 20 branches of Barclays were vandalized by pro-Palestinian and climate change activists who said they were protesting the British bank’s business dealings in Israel and its financing of polluting industries.

Windows were smashed and red paint sprayed on buildings, including in London, to “demand the bank’s withdrawal from Israel’s arms and fossil fuel trade,” Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian protest group, said in a statement provided to CNN.

In Edinburgh, rocks inscribed with the names of Palestinians killed in Gaza were thrown through the windows of a Barclays branch (BCS), according to the statement.

“Frustration with Barclays’ limited progress in stopping their genocidal and destructive climate finance has helped spawn this radical new flank of activism,” Palestine Action said. “Targeted actions will continue until Barclays completely removes this funding from its business model.”

Shut the System, an environmental activist group, posted several images on X Monday – apparently its first activity on the platform – showing badly damaged Barclays branches.

“Shut the System and Palestine Action have taken radical direct action, frustrated by Barclays’ paltry progress on reversing climate destruction and financing genocide,” one post read.

CNN has reached out to Shut the System for comment.

A number of pro-Palestinian groups have called for protests against Barclays, claiming the bank invests billions of dollars in companies linked to the Israeli military.

A May 2024 report published by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Campaign Against Arms Trade and War on Want alleged that Barclays “held shares in and/or provided loans and financial services to at least nine companies known to produce weapons and military technology. sold to Israel and used in its militarized attacks on Palestinians”.

A Barclays spokesman told CNN that it provides “vital financial services to public companies in the US, UK and Europe that provide defense products to NATO and its allies”, noting that Barclays does not directly invest in these companies.

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“The defense sector is fundamental to our national security and the UK Government has been clear that supporting defense companies is compatible with (environmental, social and governance) considerations. Decisions regarding the implementation of arms embargoes to other nations are the responsibility of the respective elected governments,” the spokesperson added.

“While we support the right to protest, we ask that activists do so in a way that respects our customers, colleagues and property.”

Three men were arrested on Monday in connection with criminal damage at a London branch of Barclays, the City of London Police announced on X.

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