A man was arrested in London for spray-painting pro-Palestinian slogans on the Churchill statue, sparking debate over protest and historical symbols.

A 38-year-old man was arrested in London on February 27, 2026, after spray-painting pro-Palestinian slogans, including “Zionist war criminal” and “Globalise the Intifada,” on the Winston Churchill statue in Parliament Square. The Metropolitan Police said he was detained on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage and later on suspicion of supporting a proscribed group. A Dutch activist group, Free the Filton 24, claimed responsibility, sharing a video of a man identifying as Olax Outis who said the act protested human rights violations and British government policies. The statue was cordoned off and cleaned, with authorities condemning the vandalism as abhorrent. The incident sparked debate over historical symbolism and protest, while police reiterated that chanting “globalise the intifada” can lead to arrest.