Barclays branches across UK smashed up and covered in red paint by protesters

A Barclays branch in Broadmead, Bristol, is one of several targeted on Monday (Picture: SWNS)

Activists have wrecked Barclays branches around the country in a coordinated protest over the Palestine conflict.

Sites in cities including Bristol, Mancheser, and Stockport were targeted overnight and early on Monday morning by members of Palestine Action, who smashed the branches’ glass fronts and sprayed red paint over them.

The group claims to have shut down 20 branches across England and Scotland, though the extent of damage was not immediately clear.

Activists in Edinburgh said they had pelted one branch with rocks ‘marked with the names of Palestinian martyrs’ as well as slogans like ‘child killers’ and ‘Barclays, murderers & proud’.

A branch in Bury, Manchester, was one of several to be severely damaged (Picture: SWNS)

A branch in Stockport was found to have been wrecked in the early hours of the morning (Picture: Alamy)

A branch in St Johns Wood, London, had holes punched through its windows, which were covered in paint (Picture: ZUMA Press)

Palestine Action accused Barclays of ‘funding genocide in Palestine’ by being ‘investors in Israel’s largest weapons firm, Elbit Systems’.

Barclays rejects the claims, arguing that they are based on misunderstandings about how banks are involved in financial trading.

While Palestine Action’s website does not explain the accusations, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign has led calls to boycott Barclays over similar allegations.

This is a developing news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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