Political Violence Tsar Labels Palestine Action ‘Extreme Protest Group’ After Bank Vandalism Spree

Handout photo issued by Palestine Action of a damaged Barclays in London on June 10, 2024. (Palestine Action/PA Wire)

A government extremism tsar labelled Palestine Action an “extreme protest group” after it vandalised over 15 branches of Barclays Bank across England and Scotland.

Palestine Action (PA), which is pursuing a vandalism-led strategy to shut down an Israeli arms manufacturer in the UK, claims that it targeted 20 sites Barclays banks.

To date, on Monday, 15 sites had windows smashed and red paint thrown at them.

The activists, who are working with a newly-formed climate change group called Shut The System, said that they are “demanding divestment from Israel’s weapons trade and fossil fuels has left the bank shattered.”

PA is participating in a nationwide sabotage campaign against Elbit Systems, a major supplier to the Ministry of Defence and one of Israel’s largest defence contractors.

City of London Police said three men were arrested for damage to the building in Moorgate.

Lord Walney

Earlier this year the government’s adviser on political violence and disruption said adviser Lord Walney warned that left-wing extremists want to “undermine” basic democratic principles using criminal tactics to “force” changes they want.

In response to Palestine Action’s latest spree, he wrote on the social media platform X that both political parties Labour and Conservative should consider “carefully” his review of political violence.

“Extreme protest group Palestine Action is today claiming to have targeted ”around 20“ branches of Barclays Bank, their criminal sabotage is evident today. Currently, they freely advertise’ training days to instruct activists on criminal acts,” he said.

He added that the “threat of arrest at the scene is clearly not deterring groups like this.”

“I am calling on all parties to accept the recommendation from my review to restrict the fundraising and communication ability of groups who routinely use criminal tactics to influence public opinion,” he said.

Cell

Palestine Action said branches in Moorgate, Palace Street, Richmond, Croydon, Wellington Road and Peckham in London were targeted, along with Barclays banks in Glasgow, Exeter, Sheffield, Brighton, Northampton, Bristol, Birmingham, Solihull and Preston, Bury and Stockport, as well as an office in Edinburgh.

Shut The System said that it had “taken radical direct action in frustration with Barclay’s paltry progress on changing their climate-destroying and genocidal financing.”

Co-founded by Palestinian-Iraqi Huda Ammori and Extinction Rebellion’s Richard Barnard, the group says it is a “direct action network dismantling British complicity with Israeli apartheid.”

On Oct. 7, the day of the Hamas terror attack, PA wrote on social media platform X, “The violence began when Zionist militia, backed by Britain, began the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people, destruction and theft of their land.”

In PA’s training manual, the group calls for people to create a “cell” then “pick your target.”

It says to then look for sites associated with the Ministry of Defence office and Elbit Systems and to do a recce while “preparing for action.”

“On going for sites in more rural areas, try asking to borrow someone’s dog to take them on a walk (or walk your own dog if you’ve got one),” it suggests.

“Dream up crazy ideas in your cell, remember that your action is to disrupt, damage or destroy your target,” it added.

Action Network

As well as fundraising directly on its site, PA use funding tools from countries abroad such as the U.S.-based Action Network.

PA is free to fundraise, often via foreign companies, despite pursuing a vandalism-led strategy.

The Action Network online tool for “left-of-center outlets to organize, fundraise, and circulate petitions for liberal causes,” was born out of the Occupy Wall Street protests, according to Influence Watch.

Action Network says it “encourages responsible activism, and do not support using the platform to take unlawful or other improper action.”

PA also has an account with an Australian-founded internationally regulated global crowdfunding platform called Chuffed. The site is a vehicle for progressive causes. One account is raising funds so that Nigerian progressives can pursue a “socialist revolution.”

A spokesperson for Barclays said: “We provide vital financial services to U.S., UK and European public companies that supply defence products to NATO and its allies. 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 (environmental, social and governance) considerations. Decisions on the implementation of arms embargos 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.”

The Epoch Times contacted Palestine Action for comment.