British police detained Will McCallum, the UK coordinator of Greenpeace, and four other activists on Thursday after they dumped 300 liters of blood-red dye into a pond in the US embassy in Nine Elms, southwest London. The theatrical protest was part of an anti-arms protest against the United States continuing to sell weapons to Israel.
Activists Employ Disguised Bikes and Dye
Twelve Greenpeace activists were said to have carried the dye in containers marked “Stop Arming Israel,” which were transported on bicycles equipped with trailers masquerading as delivery bikes. They poured the non-toxic, biodegradable dye into the pond for the symbolic representation of the bloodshed in Gaza.
Police Confirm Arrests on Criminal Damage Charges
As reported by The Guardian, McCallum was detained on suspicion of conspiracy to commit criminal damage — a crime that has a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Four others were detained nearby on the same charges.
Greenpeace Defends Peaceful Protest
“These arrests are yet more proof that the right to protest is under attack in the UK,” said Areeba Hamid, co-executive director at Greenpeace UK. “This protest employed biodegradable pond dye that is meant to break up and wash away naturally.”
Condemning US Role in Gaza Conflict
Hamid added: “We took this step because US weaponry continues to feed an indiscriminate war that’s witnessed bombs falling on schools and hospitals, whole neighbourhoods reduced to rubble, and tens of thousands of Palestinian lives wiped out. With the US government as the largest weapons supplier to the Israeli army, it holds a large degree of responsibility for the atrocities unfolding in Gaza.”
Gaza Conflict Background
The demonstration occurs in the backdrop of the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, which started after Hamas’s October 7 attack that killed more than 1,200 individuals and left approximately 250 hostages. Israel responded with a military campaign that has claimed more than 50,000 lives, as per recent updates.
Call for Arms Embargo
Greenpeace UK is now urging both the US and UK governments to enact a complete arms embargo on Israel, citing the heavy humanitarian cost in the area.
