Pro-Palestine protesters target ‘up to 20’ Barclays bank branches

Pro-Palestine protesters have targeted Barclays bank branches across the country by smashing windows and covering buildings in red paint.

Up to 20 buildings, including branches in High Street, Croydon and Rye Lane, Peckham, have been targeted, according to the group Palestine Action.

Other targets adorned by the damage include banks in St John’s Wood, north London and Richmond in South-west London.

The protesters also struck in Manchester, Preston, Lancashire, Glasgow, Brighton, Exeter, Sheffield, Northampton, Birmingham and Solihull, Palestine Action said.

The organisation said the protests were carried out to “demand the bank divests from Israel’s weapons trade and fossil fuels”.

A spokesman for Barclays said: “While we support the right to protest, we ask that campaigners do so in a way which respects our customers, colleagues and property.”

Shut the System, a recently launched underground climate movement, claims it partnered with Palestine Action’s underground division to launch the attacks. Palestine action has also confirmed this. 

Both groups said targeted actions will continue until Barclays stops investing in certain companies. 

A spokesman for Barclays said the bank “provides vital financial services to US, UK and European public companies that supply defence products to NATO and its allies”. 

The spokesman said: “The defence sector is fundamental to our national security and the UK government has been clear that supporting defence companies is compatible with ESG considerations.

“Decisions on the implementation of arms embargoes to other nations are the job of respective elected governments.”

On Saturday Gaza’s ministry of health said at least 37,084 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since October 7. 

The revised death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attacks stands at around 1,200 with some 116 of people still held captive.

The Met has been approached for comment.

Pictured top: A Barclays branch in Richmond which was targeted by the protest (Picture: Yann Tear)