Barclays denies funding in Israeli corporations with hyperlinks to the arms commerce as at the very least 20 of its branches are vandalised in assaults in a single day that additionally concerned local weather activists.
By James Sillars, Enterprise reporter @SkyNewsBiz
Professional-Palestinian activists say they’ve attacked 20 Barclays financial institution branches throughout England and Scotland as a part of a marketing campaign aimed toward damaging Israel’s warfare machine.
The Palestine Motion group, which has beforehand targeted its marketing campaign on Israel-based defence contractor Elbit’s UK operations, mentioned its members had been answerable for the vandalism.
Photos posted on X confirmed home windows smashed and widespread use of graffiti on a number of financial institution department entrances.
The areas focused included branches in London, Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh.
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The campaigners additionally included members of the environment-focused protest group Shut the System.
Palestine Motion accused Barclays of getting monetary pursuits in each Israel’s weapons commerce and fossil fuels.
In posts on its X account, Shut the System mentioned: “For the sake of all life on Earth we should #ShutTheSystem.
“Splintered home windows, shards of damaged glass glittering on the pavements stand as testimony to the shattered hopes for a habitable future for all beings, all over the place.”
It’s understood that 15 websites had been broken however no-one was harm.
The branches affected are at the moment closed.
A spokesperson for Barclays mentioned: “We offer important monetary companies to US, UK and European public corporations that provide defence merchandise to NATO and its allies.
“Barclays doesn’t straight spend money on these corporations.
“The defence sector is prime to our nationwide safety and the UK authorities has been clear that supporting defence corporations is appropriate with ESG (environmental, social and governance) concerns.
“Choices on the implementation of arms embargos to different nations are the job of respective elected governments.
“Whereas we help the appropriate to protest, we ask that campaigners accomplish that in a manner which respects our clients, colleagues and property.”
