A man has been charged with criminal damage after the statue of former British prime minister Winston Churchill was defaced with pro Palestine slogans in central London.
The monument, located in Parliament Square, was smeared with red paint early Friday. Among the graffiti written across the statue were the phrases Zionist war criminal, free Palestine, and stop the genocide.
The Metropolitan Police said Caspar San Giorgio, 38, of no fixed address, was charged early Saturday, roughly 24 hours after his arrest. Officers reportedly detained him within minutes of being alerted to the incident. He was scheduled to appear before a magistrates court later the same day.
Workers cleaned the 3.6 metre statue on Friday, removing the paint and restoring the landmark. The statue of Churchill, who led Britain during World War Two, stands prominently in Parliament Square and remains a symbol of national resilience and wartime leadership.
The office of Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the act, describing the damage as completely abhorrent. A spokesperson praised police for their swift response and reiterated that Churchill was a great Briton.
The statue has been targeted several times in recent years. During protests linked to the Black Lives Matter movement and demonstrations by Extinction Rebellion in 2020, the monument was also vandalised, sparking debate about Britain’s historical legacy and public memorials.
Authorities continue to urge respect for public monuments while safeguarding the right to peaceful protest.
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