Winston Churchill statue defaced with the words ‘Zionist war criminal’

A number of statements were written across the Churchill statue

The graffiti appears to have been done overnight on the statue of the former prime minister in Parliament Square and features a number of statements written across the statue and its plinth.

These include "Zionist war criminal", but also "Stop the genocide" and "Free Palestine".

The side of the statue's plinth graffiti read: "Groetjes uit den haag (Greetings from The Hague)" and "Globalise the Intifada."

On the back off the statute it was written: "Never again is now".

Images show Westminster heritage wardens covering up the graffiti with tape and plastic bin bags.