Bolton Barclays smashed up and covered in paint just days after other branches attacked

Another branch of Barclays has been smashed up after two others were vandalised on Friday.

The Bolton town centre bank had its windows smashed and was doused in red paint at about 3am today (Monday), with police currently on the scene.

It comes after two Barclays branches in Manchester suffered similar acts of vandalism last week as part of a protest by Palestine Action, which claims it invests in Israel’s largest weapons firm, Elbit Systems, something Barclays has denied.

It is not yet confirmed if the latest bank attack is linked to the other two but the damage done to the banks is similar in all three instances.

An office building belonging to Avnet Abacus, an electronic components distributor, in Bolton's Silverwell Street, suffered a similar fate in March.

The words "Avnet kills Gazan babies" were written on the front door and entrance steps in large white writing.

A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman confirmed its officers had been called to the bank in the early hours of this morning but said no arrests had been made.

She said: "At 2.54am this morning (Monday, June 3), we were called following reports of criminal damage and red graffiti over a building on Market Street in Bolton.

"No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing."

Palestine Action have taken responsibility for the latest bank vandalism incident.

A statement from the group read: "Palestine Action target the Bradford and Bolton branch of Barclays, demanding the bank divests from Israel’s biggest weapons firm, Elbit Systems."

Following the attacks on its banks, Barclays issued a statement urging protesters to "respect" its workforce and property.

It read: "We provide vital financial services to US, UK and European public companies that supply defence products to NATO and its allies. Barclays does not directly invest in these companies.

"The defence sector is fundamental to our national security and the UK government has been clear that supporting defence companies is compatible with ESG considerations. Decisions on the implementation of arms embargos to other nations are the job of respective elected governments.

“While we support the right to protest, we ask that campaigners do so in a way which respects our customers, colleagues and property.”