Man Charged After Churchill Statue Defaced with Graffiti

A 38-year-traditional man has been charged with criminal damage after graffiti was sprayed on the statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, London. The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, February 28, 2026, and involved slogans referencing the conflict in Palestine.

Details of the Incident

The statue, a 12ft bronze monument created by Ivor Roberts-Jones and unveiled in 1973, was defaced with graffiti including “Never again is Now”, “Free Palestine”, and “Globalise the Intifada”. Additional messages included “Stop the Genocide” and branding Churchill a “Zionist war criminal” The Independent.

The Arrest and Court Appearance

Caspar San Giorgio, 38, of no fixed address, was arrested shortly after 4:00 AM on Friday. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court via video-link on Saturday, February 29, 2026, but did not confirm his identity BBC News and BBC. The case has been adjourned to Monday at the same court to allow for the provision of a Dutch interpreter.

Previous Vandalism and Police Response

This is not the first time Churchill’s statue has been targeted. In June 2020, during Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd, the statue was scrawled with graffiti accusing Churchill of racism. In October of the same year, an Extinction Rebellion activist was fined over £1,500 for painting “racist” on the statue’s plinth during a climate protest BBC News.

In December 2025, both the Metropolitan Police and Greater Manchester Police announced that anyone using the slogan “globalise the intifada” would face arrest BBC News.

Official Reactions

A Greater London Authority spokesperson stated they were “appalled by this vandalism” and that work to remove the graffiti was underway. Downing Street condemned the act as “completely abhorrent,” reaffirming that Churchill was a “great Briton” and that the perpetrator would be held accountable The Independent.