Hackney man admits criminal damage of Israeli embassy

John Harvey. Photograph: Metropolitan Police

A man has admitted throwing a tin of red paint over the Israeli embassy on Armistice Day.

Seventy-five-year-old John Harvey was arrested and later charged with criminal damage.

He pleaded guilty on Monday 13 November at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

On Saturday 11 November at around 9:15am, Harvey was spotted approaching the gates of the Israeli embassy.

He was carrying a carrier bag containing a tin of paint, which he put down on the ground outside the embassy’s front gate.

Harvey then threw the tin towards the building, covering the gate, the ground and himself in red paint.

Harvey, from Pamela Street, E8, was immediately arrested at the scene by officers from the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command who were on patrol.

Investigating officer PC Kat Lloyd said: “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.”

Harvey has been released on bail to appear for sentencing at the same court on Thursday 14 December.