Pro-Palestine protesters target Barclays across the UK: Activists smash windows and throw red paint over bank branches in London, Bristol and Manchester over its ‘links to Israel’s weapons trade and fossil fuels’

Pro-Palestine protesters have targeted Barclays‘ across the UK, smashing windows and throwing red paint over the bank branches in London, Bristol and Manchester.

Shocking pictures show that all the windows of a branch in the centre of Bristol have been smashed and graffiti sprayed over them in the co-ordinated attack.

Palestine Action said its activists smashed the windows of the bank in Broadmead, along with Barclays branches right across the country, from Glasgow to Brighton. 

The group said they took the action to demand that the bank ‘divests from Israel‘s weapons trade and fossil fuels‘.

Posting on X, they claimed to have ‘shut 20 Barclays branches’ across England and Scotland with their antics.

BRISTOL: Pro-Palestine protesters have targeted Barclays ‘ across the UK, smashing windows and throwing red paint over the bank branches

BURY: A police cordon is in place outside Barclays bank in Bury, Manchester, after the protest

WESTMINSTER: The St Johns Wood branch of Barclays Bank is left with doors and windows smashed and the exterior covered with red paint

The City of London Police said that three men, between 34 and 45, have been arrested in connection with criminal damage at Barclays on Moorgate this morning. 

A post on X by the force read: ‘They were seen on CCTV by our control and officers were sent to the scene. Following a short foot chase, three men were brought into custody.’

 A spokesperson for Palestine Action said: ‘Barclays is funding the crises of climate collapse and genocide in Palestine.

‘Decades of polite campaigning, petitions, letter writing and lobbying MPs have failed.

‘We will continue to escalate until Barclays pulls its finger out and stops funding genocide and climate destruction.

Activists also sprayed the names of Palestinians killed in the Israeli military action in Gaza on the walls of the Barclays branch.

A spokesperson for Barclays said: ‘We provide vital financial services to US, UK and European public companies that supply defence products to Nato and its allies.

BRISTOL: Gigantic shards of glass sticking up from the remains of the shattered window

CROYDON: Holes are seen left in smashed windows in Croydon this morning 

BURY: A table and a sign were left coated with the paint which was thrown at the bank

BURY: Barclays bank in Bury, Manchester, this morning, which was targeted by activists

BRISTOL: Red paint was thrown across the branch in Bristol’s city centre in protest

BRISTOL:A woman carefully picks her way over the shattered and stained broken window glass

‘Barclays does not directly invest in these companies.

‘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.

‘While we support the right to protest, we ask that campaigners do so in a way which respects our customers, colleagues and property.’

BURY: Forensic officers and a police cordon were in place outside Barclays bank in Bury, Manchester, this morning, after the group targeted the bank with paint

BRISTOL: A police officer stands at the scene after a branch was targeted by activists

PECKHAM: The scene at Barclays bank in Peckham after several branches were attacked

WESTMINSTER: Branch cash machines are covered with red paint

BRISTOL: The windows of the Barclays Bank branch in the centre of the city have been smashed

BURY: A cracked window in a Barclays bank in Manchester, dripping with red paint