Pro-Palestine groups have threatened to disrupt one of London’s biggest Christmas events over its sponsorship deal with Barclays.

Activists have called for a boycott of Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball, which is set to be headlined at the O2 arena next weekend by Coldplay and Katy Perry.

There are also plans by pro-Palestine groups to picket the shows, raising fears that militants could try to disrupt the event.

The boycott call could place pressure on Chris Martin, Coldplay’s frontman – who has previously expressed concern over the plight of both Palestinian and Israeli civilians – to pull out of the shows.

Activists have mounted a long-running campaign of direct action against Barclays over its financial links to defence-industry firms they say provide arms to Israel.

Tactics have included staging blockades and sit-ins at numerous Barclays Bank branches in the wake of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, following the Oct 7 attacks by Hamas.