The Metropolitan Police is investigating organised crime gangs for a series of red paint and graffiti attacks on homes across England, including in Walthamstow, east London. The attacks, which have also occurred in Liverpool, Bradford, Reading, Huddersfield, Clacton-on-Sea, and other parts of London, involve red paint splattered on houses and the word 'brothel' daubed alongside numbers.
Police have told local representatives that lines of inquiry include 'intimidation where money is owed and links to organised crime.' Investigators are analysing the paint colour, spelling of words, and awaiting forensic results. There is no evidence of brothels at the targeted addresses, nor of Islamophobia or links to recent mosque attacks.
Seven incidents have been reported in Waltham Forest borough, targeting six addresses described as legitimate businesses offering online bookings (e.g., Airbnb, Booking.com). Residents received letters from apparent culprits claiming specific addresses were targeted.
Stella Creasy, Labour MP for Walthamstow, has called for a Home Office investigation, noting similarities to intimidation tactics used by criminal gangs in China and cities with Chinese diasporas. A UN refugee agency report in 2023 linked red paint splashing to loan sharks associated with Triad gangs.
