Man Charged Over Churchill Statue Graffiti in Parliament Square
A 38-year-old man has been formally charged with criminal damage after the iconic statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, London, was defaced with graffiti. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Caspar San Giorgio, who is of no fixed address, was arrested in the early hours of Friday morning and charged just before 4am on Saturday.
Details of the Incident and Arrest
The bronze statue, which stands opposite the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, was vandalised with red spray paint. The graffiti included phrases such as "Stop the Genocide", "Free Palestine", "Never again is Now", and "Globalise the Intifada". One piece of graffiti branded the former prime minister a "Zionist war criminal".
Police reported that San Giorgio was arrested shortly after 4am on Friday and taken into custody. He is scheduled to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Saturday morning to face the criminal damage charge.
Group Claims Responsibility and Official Responses
On Friday morning, the Dutch group Free the Filton 24 claimed responsibility for the vandalism. They posted a video on Instagram that appeared to show the incident in progress. The group describes itself as a network of "family and friends" of the 24 Palestine Action activists who were charged in 2024 over a break-in at a UK site of Elbit, an Israel-based defence firm.
In response to the incident, a Greater London Authority spokesperson stated: "We are appalled by this vandalism to the statue of Sir Winston Churchill and work is under way to remove the graffiti as quickly as possible." Downing Street also condemned the act, with a Number 10 spokesman saying: "Churchill was a great Briton. This Government will always stand up for our values and the perpetrator must be held to account." The spokesman labelled the vandalism as "completely abhorrent".
The case highlights ongoing tensions and protests related to international conflicts, with public monuments becoming focal points for political expression. Authorities are emphasising the importance of protecting historical landmarks while ensuring legal accountability for such acts of defacement.
