A pensioner who hurled red paint over the Israeli Embassy in west London at a protest on Armistice Day has been convicted over the attack.
John Harvey, 75, threw the paint at the embassy in Kensington at 9.15am on November 11 before thousands of protesters mustered for a pro-Palestine rally.
Harvey, who is from east London, was surrounded by diplomatic protection officers and arrested. In custody he admitted one charge of causing criminal damage and has been bailed for sentencing in December.
A police statement said: "On Saturday, 11 November at around 09:15hrs, Harvey was seen to approach the gates of the Israeli embassy. He was carrying a carrier bag, which officers later found had contained the tin of paint.
"Harvey put the bag on the floor outside the embassy’s front gate and aimed the red paint and the tin towards the building. The paint covered the gate and the floor and also went on Harvey."
PC Kat Lloyd, investigating, said after the conviction: “Any incident of this nature is distressing for people to witness, and it is unacceptable that the embassy was deliberately damaged in this way.
“At no point did Harvey gain entry to the embassy grounds during the incident, and he was dealt with swiftly at the scene by officers.
“This was a targeted act of criminal damage and now Harvey has admitted his guilt, we await sentencing.”
Harvey was charged with criminal damage, which he pleaded guilty to on Monday, 13 November at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
He was released on court bail to appear for sentencing at the same court on 14 December.
