Protesters spray UK Ministry of Defence with red paint to urge an end to Israel arms sales

Activists from Youth Demand and Palestine Action sprayed red paint on the walls of the UK Ministry of Defence's building in central London yesterday.

The protestors demanded that UK political parties pledge to impose a ban on buying arms from or selling arms to Israel. At least five people were arrested by police.

In a post on social media platform X, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: "The Armed Forces can’t and won’t be intimidated. "Those inside @DefenceHQ stand up to dictators & terrorists every day - patriots, many of whom put their lives at risk to protect us all. "Those targeting us today are the opposite, cowardly criminals who I’m glad to see arrested." Similar protests with the red paint - symbolising the blood spilt as a result of Israel's ongoing and relentless military campaign in Gaza since October 7 - have taken place at sites around the UK that belong to or are affiliated with Israeli weapons firm Elbit Systems, the primary provider of the Israeli military's land-based equipment and unmanned aerial vehicles.