Barclays has issued a statement after its Croydon branch was vandalised with a pro-Palestinian slogan.
Police were called to the damage at the North End branch of Barclays at around 1.45am yesterday (Thursday, April 18).
The bank is currently closed as a police cordon is in place.
When police arrived, those responsible had left the scene.
There has been no arrest, and an investigation is ongoing.
Police have said they “will not tolerate” criminal damage to buildings “under the guise of protest”.
Barclays has apologised to customers for any inconvenience and has said that it is working hard to reopen the branch as soon as possible.
They go on to say that safety is a top priority and ask people not to resort to criminal damage to express their views as they say it puts people’s safety at risk.
A Barclays spokesperson said: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the temporary closure of our Croydon branch.
“We are working hard to get the branch open as soon as we possibly can.
“The safety of our customers, colleagues and local community is our priority and we would ask that those expressing their views stop short of criminal damage to our facilities, which puts people’s safety at risk.”
Pictures show a large, floor-to-ceiling window that has been completely smashed with shattered glass on the ground.
There is a police cordon visible blocking people from the building.
Words such as “free Palestine”, “baby killers” and “stop funding genocide” have been spray painted in red across the side of the windows that are not smashed.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote CAD408/18Apr.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “On Thursday 18 April at approximately 01:45hrs police received a call to attend North End, Croydon after a report of criminal damage after a pro-Palestine slogan had been sprayed onto the front of a building.
“Officers attended but those responsible had left the scene.
“There has been no arrest and an investigation is ongoing
“We will not tolerate people causing criminal damage to buildings under the guise of protest.
“Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote CAD408/18Apr.”
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