Pro-Palestinian activists have targeted the BBC’s Broadcasting House headquarters, smashing glass doors and spraying the building with red paint.

Palestine Action issued a statement claiming responsibility for the damage, saying it covered the building in “blood-red paint” and broke windows in protest against what it claims is the BBC’s “pro-Israel bias”.

The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation into the vandalism at the building in Portland Place, central London.

A clean-up was under way on Monday afternoon, including the removal of the paint using pressure washers.