A Palestine Action spokesperson said: “Whilst the Gaza genocide rages on, our actions against the Zionist war machine and those who fund it will continue to intensify. There is no more time to waste on begging institutions to end their complicity.
“Ultimately, banks reduce Palestinian lives to profit on their accounts. As finance is the only language they understand, we will ensure they calculate the full cost of investing in Israel’s weapons trade.”
A spokesman for West Yorkshire police said: “Police received a report at 2:28am on Thursday morning of an incident of criminal damage at Barclays Bank on Albion Street, Leeds.
“It was further reported that damage had also been caused to other premises on Albion Street and to The Pinnacle building.
“Those involved had reportedly left the scene in a vehicle. A vehicle matching the description given was stopped nearby and the seven occupants have been arrested. They are currently in custody.”
Protests at 20 branches
Barclays has been repeatedly targeted in recent weeks by the group, with protests at around 20 branches. Members of Palestine Action shattered windows, sprayed paint and stencilled over the facades of buildings from Glasgow to Brighton.
JP Morgan has been targeted in Italy, Portugal, Manchester, Edinburgh – and now Leeds – while companies including Starbucks, McDonald’s and Google have also been hit.
Palestine Action is understood to be planning a series of demonstrations at events for undergraduates and master’s degree holders at the University of Cambridge in the coming days.
Many Cambridge graduands will receive their degrees in the coming days, meaning the protests could cause widespread disruption.
Last week Palestine Action and Youth Front For Palestine claimed responsibility for spraying the University of Cambridge senate house with red paint.
West Yorkshire Police, Barclays and JP Morgan were contacted for comment.
