Police statement after Barclays branches targeted by pro-Palestine groups with red paint

Police have launched criminal investigations into the damage after branches of Barclays bank in Greater Manchester were targeted with red paint and had their windows smashed during the early hours attacks.

Greater Manchester Police said they were investigating “two reports of criminal damage in the early hours” in relation to branches in Bury and Stockport.

Campaign group Palestine Action said it had “targeted” 20 Barclays branches in England and Scotland today.

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Images of paint thrown over windows and doors and broken windows and doors echo similar scenes at several Barclays branches in Greater Manchester last week. The branch on Market Street in Bolton was targeted, as well as two branches on Market Street and Mosley Street in Manchester city centre.

And GMP also disclosed Manchester Evening News that 14 arrests have now been made in connection with 17 similar reports of criminal damage since April.

A GMP spokesman told the MEN: “We are investigating two reports of criminal damage from the early hours of this morning (Monday June 10) involving red graffiti over buildings in Central Street, Bury and Bridge Street, Stockport.

“To date we have made 14 arrests in relation to 17 similar reports of criminal damage since October 2023 where buildings were targeted with red paint across Greater Manchester. This behavior is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”

Palestine Action said branches in Moorgate, Palace Street, Richmond, Croydon, Wellington Road and Peckham in London were targeted, along with Barclays banks in Glasgow, Exeter, Sheffield, Brighton, Northampton, Bristol, Birmingham, Solihull and Preston, Bury and Stockport. as well as an office in Edinburgh.

The vandalism was a joint action with a newly formed climate change group called Shut The System.

Palestine Action said the sites had windows smashed and paint thrown at them as part of a protest calling for the bank to divest from arms companies that sell to Israel as well as fossil fuel-related firms.

Meanwhile, the City of London Police said three men had been arrested over the destruction of the building in Moorgate.

A Barclays spokesman said: “We provide vital financial services to public companies in the US, UK and Europe that supply defense products to NATO and its allies. Barclays does not invest directly in these companies. The defense sector is fundamental to our national security and the UK Government has been clear that supporting defense companies is compatible with ESG considerations.

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