Greenpeace activists dye US Embassy pond red in arms trade protest

Six people have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and conspiracy to cause criminal damage.

Six people have been arrested after 300 litres of blood-red dye was dumped into a pond outside the US embassy in London in protest against America’s sale of arms to Israel.

Will McCallum, co-executive director of Greenpeace UK, was one of those apprehended, according to the international organisation.

he force said officers on duty at the embassy in Nine Elms were alerted to the incident at about 7.30am.

A Met Police spokesperson added: "The group made off but officers responded quickly and carried out a search of the area.

"Six people have so far been arrested nearby on suspicion of criminal damage and conspiracy to cause criminal damage.

"The pond is accessible via a public footpath. There was no breach or attempted breach of the secure perimeter of the site."

Pic: Greenpeace

Areeba Hamid, co-executive director at Greenpeace UK, said the dye was non-toxic, biodegradable and designed to wash away naturally.

She added: "We took this action because US weapons continue to fuel an indiscriminate war that’s seen bombs dropped on schools and hospitals, entire neighbourhoods blasted to rubble, and tens of thousands of Palestinian lives obliterated. 

"As the biggest supplier of weapons to the Israeli military, the US government bears a heavy responsibility for the horrors unfolding in Gaza.

"Rather than passing laws that make it easier for police to arrest people who make their voices heard on the issues they care about, the US and UK governments should listen to the majority of Americans and Brits who support an arms embargo on Israel."

The war between Israel and Hamas began when Hamas-led militants invaded Israel on 7 October 2023 and killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostage.

Israel’s offensive has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians or combatants, with another 115,338 wounded.

Israel says it has killed around 20,000 militants.