Police have arrested a man after red paint was sprayed on to a weapons company’s offices in Piccadilly, west London.

Paint was thrown over the front of the London HQ of Leonardo in Eagle Place, and messages including “Free Gaza” were sprayed on to its facade.

Israel-Gaza latest: ‘Fierce fighting’ on ground

Activists from Palestine Action claimed they had targeted the premises.

Images posted on social media showed another man on the canopy with a red flare.

It comes amid the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East which ignited on 7 October after a deadly attack by Hamas on Israel, which has responded with ongoing military action.

More than 1,400 Israelis have died and over 9,000 Palestinians since Hamas’s multi-pronged surprise attack last month.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Read more:
‘Pro-Palestinian protesters’ release live rodents into a McDonalds
‘The end of a chapter’: Stuart Ramsay on how Gaza has changed

The Metropolitan Police said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that a man is in police custody after he was arrested by officers on suspicion of criminal damage.

The force added: “One other person is currently on the canopy above the entrance to the building.

“Officers are dealing with this man and once he is down safely will seek to arrest him for any offences.”

Related posts:

‘A devastating loss’: Tributes ahead of vigil for flower seller stabbed to death outside his stall Man handed suspended sentence for assaulting Professor Chris Whitty Tory MP and ex-minister James Brokenshire announces lung cancer has ‘progressed’ CCTV released of suspect after man, 61, killed in Birmingham hit-and-run Man who murdered wife on wedding night and put body in suitcase jailed for at least 21 years ‘A miracle nobody hurt’: Mercedes driven for more than 20 miles down wrong side of a motorway Harry may have rowed back on his racism claim – but the damage is done to the Royal Family Attempted murder victim ran into takeaway for help after stabbing Gonorrhoea and syphilis diagnoses in England hit record levels Images show dangerous depths of Scotland’s lochs in bid to keep swimmers safe ‘Curtsey to Kate? I don’t think so’: Royal biographer suggests reason why Harry and Meghan won’t return to UK Two XL bully dogs shot dead after killing 22 pregnant sheep – as owner fined