London police arrest man over theft of Banksy artwork interpreted as call for Gaza ceasefire

Police in London say officers arrested a man on suspicion of theft and criminal damage after a Banksy artwork was removed from a south London street corner within hours of appearing.

The installation, a traffic stop sign covered with three aircraft resembling military drones, has been widely interpreted as a call for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas, sparked by the terror group’s brutal October 7 massacres in southern Israel in which some 1,200 were killed, mainly civilians, and some 240 taken hostage to Gaza.

Less than an hour after Banksy confirmed it was his latest work — posting a photo of it on social media — witnesses filmed it being removed by a man with bolt cutters, with the help of another man.

One of them then ran off with the sign under his arm.

In a statement Friday, councillor Jasmine Ali, deputy leader of Southwark Council, hit out at the unauthorized removal.

“It should not have been removed and we’d like it back so everyone in the community can enjoy Banksy’s brilliant work,” she said.

“We have reported the removal of our sign to the police to help get it back.”