A PRO-Palestinian group said it daubed County Hall in Taunton in red paint in protest over a council investment.
Palestine Action says it carried out the act of vandalism at the offices, in The Crescent, in response to Somerset Council’s investment in a commercial property leased to a firm believed to supply the Israeli armed forces.
At around 7am, a group turned up at the site before spraying red paint on the exterior walls on the iconic frontage, before lying down in protest.
Police said they made four arrests – two women and two men – at the scene of “significant damage” at just after 8.15am, on suspicion of criminal damage, before further arresting them for locking on to a person.
Previously, the council has agreed to dispose of the investment.
But the group posted on social media on Thursday (April 4) lunchtime, saying: “Only comment to the police is we’re doing this for the Palestinian people.
“Somerset Council has no right to make residents complicit in genocide by leasing property to Israel’s biggest weapons firm.”
It is understood the protest group is referencing the council’s investment in property at Aztec West 600, near Bristol, where Elbit Systems is a tenant.
Defence contractor Elbit supplies equipment to the Israeli armed forces.
The incident came after a previous act of vandalism on the County Hall complex, which also involved graffiti.
Only comment to the police is we’re doing this for the Palestinian people!
Somerset council have no right to make residents complicit in genocide by leasing property to Israel’s biggest weapons firm.@SomersetCouncil #EvictElbit NOW. pic.twitter.com/csNbU7gCoO
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) April 4, 2024
A council spokesperson said: “A further attack and criminal damage has been made against public property which will inevitably result in additional costs at the public expense.
“We believe this incident relates to a legacy commercial investment which we have already agreed to dispose of.”
At a meeting of the council in February, a protestor interrupted proceedings over the council’s investments, prompting a delay in the gathering.
Then, leader Bill Revans (Lib Dem, North Petherton) said he was happy to meet with the protestor and said the council was addressing the issues raised.
These protesters should be made to clean it then have a long prison sentence, may teach them a lesson
I sincerely hope they are all charged with criminal damage, jailed and fined. Regardless of the reason for the protest, it is not acceptable in a democratic society to behave like this. It will cost taxpayers money to rectify the damage. Funding that could have been spent elsewhere on more important services i.e. social care, mental health.