London, UK – British police have arrested six Greenpeace activists, including the organisation’s UK co-executive director, Will McCallum, after a dramatic protest at the U.S. embassy in London on Thursday.
The protest, aimed at halting arms sales to Israel, involved activists pouring 300 litres of biodegradable red dye into the embassy’s semi-circular pond in Nine Elms. Greenpeace said the dye symbolised the bloodshed in Gaza and was intended as a peaceful call for the U.S. and UK to impose an arms embargo on Israel.
The activists used containers labelled “Stop Arming Israel,” and according to police, five individuals were arrested at the scene on suspicion of criminal damage and conspiracy to cause criminal damage. Greenpeace later confirmed that six arrests had been made, including McCallum.
“This protest used biodegradable pond dye that is designed to disperse and wash away naturally,” said Areeba Hamid, Greenpeace UK’s other co-director. “These arrests are further proof that the right to protest is under attack in the UK.”
Police clarified that no breach of the embassy’s secure perimeter occurred, as the pond is accessible from a public footpath.
The protest is part of a growing movement in the UK calling for action against the sale of weapons to Israel amid its ongoing military operations in Gaza. It also comes amid increasing scrutiny of the UK government’s use of expanded powers to suppress protests, particularly those tied to environmental and pro-Palestinian activism.
