Pensioner who admitted throwing red paint over the Israeli embassy on Armistice Day faces jail

A pensioner is facing jail after admitting throwing red paint over the Israeli embassy on Armistice Day.

John Harvey is one of 386 people arrested in London alone relating to the conflict in Gaza since the Hamas attacks of October 7.

The 75-year-old was arrested outside the embassy by Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command officers after he launched a tin of paint at the building's front gate, covering himself in the process.

He pleaded guilty to criminal damage on Monday at Westminster Magistrates' Court and will be sentenced on December 14.

It comes as officers swoop on a number of other suspects accused of offences including spraying pro-Palestine graffiti, showing support for Hamas online and shouting antisemitic slurs at people in a Jewish community.

A 37-year-old man was arrested in west London on Friday for showing support for a proscribed terrorist group and the Hamas attacks of October 7.

That same day, officers chased down and arrested a 21-year-old man spotted spraying pro-Palestinian graffiti on the shutters of a shop in Brixton, south London.

On Wednesday, November 15, a man was arrested for spitting and shouting at Jewish members of the public in Stamford Hill, north London, then allegedly made racist and homophobic comments towards a police officer.

He was bailed pending further enquiries, the Met said.

Of the 386 arrests made relating to the conflict, 253 have taken place during protests, 125 were in communities – with the majority related to hate crime - and eight were as part of ongoing counter-terror investigations.

Detective Chief Superintendent Gareth Rees, Head of Operations in the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said: 'We continue to make arrests as part of our ongoing investigations into real-world and online offending linked to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

'We are clear that where we identify anyone involved with or committing potential terrorism offences, then they will be investigated, and we will take the necessary action.'

The force has also issued an appeal to trace 20 men involved in a counter-protest on Armistice Day, including some suspected of assaulting officers and inciting racial hatred.