Police have arrested five pro-Palestine protesters after red paint was sprayed over the Ministry of Defence main building in Whitehall.

Several activists sprayed paint over the walls of the building on Wednesday as they demanded an arms embargo on Israel.

They also displayed a banner reading “Youth demand an end to genocide” before Metropolitan Police officers arrived.

The force said five people had been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and are in custody.

It wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter: “We will never tolerate people causing criminal damage to buildings under the guise of protest.”

The groups Youth Demand and Palestine Action jointly carried out the colourful protest, demanding that both the Conservative and Labour parties commit to imposing a two-way arms embargo on Israel.

The activists also demand an end to all future licensing for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the UK, including revoking oil and gas licences issued since 2021.

In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, several demonstrators can be seen spraying red paint onto the building.

In a statement, Youth Demand said: “Young people will not accept the future those in charge have in store for us.

“We will not die quietly whilst our leaders commit us to a future of suffering and mass death. Young people are coming together to fight back.”

On Monday, the group sprayed Labour’s headquarters with red paint and on Tuesday held a demonstration outside Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s home.

In the video, at least four protesters can be seen vaulting a fence before spraying paint onto the walls and windows of the building.

The video then shows two of the demonstrators being restrained with handcuffs by police officers.

A similar protest on March 28 saw pro-Palestinian protesters occupy the Department for Business and Trade.

Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Defence, said he was “glad” to see the protesters arrested.

“The Armed Forces can’t and won’t be intimidated,” he said in a post on X.

“Those inside Defence HQ stand up to dictators and 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.”