Palestine protesters have smashed a glass office building in Spinningfields.
Police were called to an office block on Hardman Street in Spinningfields in the early hours of this morning.
Pro-Palestine protestors had smashed the glass building, including revolving doors, and red paint had been splattered across the windows.
In a statement, a spokesperson from GMP said: “At around 3.30pm this morning, (Wednesday May 1) we were called to reports of criminal damage at a building on Hardman Street in the city centre.
“No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.”
Forensic officers were spotted carrying out investigations outside the building this morning.
The office block is home to BNY Mellon bank and Barclays, as well as the Marks and Spencer Business Service Centre.
Campaigners have said that both BNY Mellon bank and Barclays ‘both invest in Israel’s largest weapons firm’.
Palestine Action shared pictures of the damage on X, formerly known as Twitter, with the caption: “Palestine Action targets the Manchester offices of BNY Mellon and Barclays.
“Both banks invest in Israel’s largest weapons firm, Elbit Systems #ShutElbitDown.”
M&S also has Israeli connections, after the company was founded in 1884 by Russian Jewish refugee Michael Marks.
Lawrence Joffe, who writes for the Jerusalem Report, said: “M&S continues its ‘special relationship’ with Israel at the shop floor level.
“It was M&S which introduced Israeli avocados to Britain.” [Jerusalem Report, June 5 2000]
The supermarket also came under fire for a still image that was taken from their 2023 Christmas advert.
The picture showed red, green, and silver paper hats being burned on a fireplace, which was interpreted by some to resemble a Palestinian flag.
The advert was pulled, and M&S released a statement saying the campaign was filmed in August before the Israel-Gaza conflict began.
Featured image credit: Mia Williams
