Israeli embassy London: Man admits throwing red paint at Kensington site

A man has admitted to throwing red paint over the Israeli embassy on Armistice Day.

John Harvey, 75, of Pamela Street, Hackney was immediately arrested at the scene by officers from the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command who were on patrol in the area.

On Saturday November 11 at around 9.15am Harvey was seen to approach the gates of the Israeli embassy. He was carrying a carrier bag, which officers later found had contained the tin of paint.

Harvey put the bag on the floor outside the embassy’s front gate and aimed the red paint and the tin towards the building. The paint covered the gate and the floor and also went on Harvey.

PC Kat Lloyd, investigating, said: “Any incident of this nature is distressing for people to witness, and it is unacceptable that the embassy was deliberately damaged in this way.

“At no point did Harvey gain entry to the embassy grounds during the incident, and he was dealt with swiftly at the scene by officers.

“This was a targeted act of criminal damage and now Harvey has admitted his guilt, we await sentencing.”

Harvey was charged with criminal damage, which he pleaded guilty to on Monday, November 13 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

He was released on court bail to appear for sentencing at the same court on Thursday, December 14.

The Met Police has made hundreds of arrests in the wake of the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7 and Israel's military response in Gaza.