Pro-Palestinian protesters vandalise Barclays and JP Morgan buildings
The Leeds offices of JP Morgan and a branch of Barclays in the city have been vandalised by pro-Palestinian activists, who sprayed the entrances to the buildings in red paint overnight.
Members of Palestine Action targeted the banks in the city centre, using modified fire extinguishers to spray the buildings.
Pictures showed the entrance of the Barclays branch covered in bright red paint. Cash machines at the front were also covered in paint, and police tape surrounded the site. The Pinnacle building, which houses the JP Morgan offices, had paint splattered over its entrance.
The group said it had targeted Barclays and JP Morgan over their alleged links to Elbit Systems, an Israeli defence company.
Activists said the company, listed in Tel Aviv and New York, manufactures weapons used to bombard the Gaza Strip. They claimed both banks hold shares in the firm.
A Palestine Action spokesman said: “Whilst the Gaza genocide rages on, our actions against the Zionist war machine and those who fund it will continue to intensify. There is no more time to waste on begging institutions to end their complicity.
“Ultimately, banks reduce Palestinian lives to profit on their accounts. As finance is the only language they understand, we will ensure they calculate the full cost of investing in Israel’s weapons trade.”
A spokesman for West Yorkshire police said: “Police received a report at 2.28am on Thursday of an incident of criminal damage at Barclays Bank on Albion Street, Leeds. It was further reported that damage had also been caused to other premises on Albion Street and to The Pinnacle building.
“Those involved had reportedly left the scene in a vehicle. A vehicle matching the description given was stopped nearby, and the seven occupants have been arrested. They are currently in custody.”
Barclays has been repeatedly targeted by Palestine Action in recent weeks, with protests at around 20 branches. Protesters shattered windows, sprayed paint and stencilled over the facades on buildings in locations from Glasgow to Brighton.
JP Morgan has been targeted in Italy, Portugal, Manchester, Edinburgh and now Leeds, while companies including Starbucks, McDonald’s and Google have also been hit.
Palestine Action is understood to be planning a series of demonstrations at events for undergraduates and master’s degree holders at the University of Cambridge in the coming days.
Last week, Palestine Action and Youth Front For Palestine claimed responsibility for spraying the University of Cambridge Senate House with red paint.
A spokesman for Barclays said: “We provide vital financial services to US, UK and European public companies that supply defence products to Nato and its allies.
“Barclays does not directly invest in these companies. The defence sector is fundamental to our national security and decisions on the implementation of arms embargoes to other nations are the job of respective elected governments. While we support the right to protest, it is not acceptable to intimidate our people or cause criminal damage.”
A West Yorkshire police spokesman said: “Police received a report at 2.28am this morning (Thursday, 27 June) of an incident of criminal damage at Barclays Bank on Albion Street, Leeds.
“It was further reported that damage had also been caused to other premises on Albion Street and to The Pinnacle building.
“Those involved had reportedly left the scene in a vehicle. A vehicle matching the description given was stopped nearby and the seven occupants have been arrested. They are currently in custody.”
