Image credit: Palestine Action
Allianz offices in the UK, including the insurer’s British headquarters in Guildford, have been the recent target of pro-Palestinian protest network Palestine Action.
The activists, who in September covered Barclays sites in red paint, did the same for the German insurance group this week through a total of 10 offices across the UK.
BREAKING: Palestine Action target 10 offices owned by Allianz, investors and insurers of Israel’s biggest weapons firm, Elbit Systems. Without insurance, Elbit couldn’t operate in Britain.
— Palestine Action (@Pal_action) October 8, 2024
Nine actions occurred overnight and the company’s Guildford HQ remains occupied! pic.twitter.com/Ul53sg5tkQ
As mentioned, Allianz was targeted over its ties with Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems.
Identifying Allianz as the insurer of Elbit Systems, Palestine Action declared: “Without insurance, Elbit couldn’t operate in Britain. Nine actions occurred overnight, and the company’s Guildford HQ remains occupied.”
Allianz has not published a statement about the vandalism – currently a matter for the police – but a Reuters report cited a spokesperson as saying on Tuesday: “The safety and security of our colleagues is paramount, and we have closed these sites today.
“Our operations and service to customers and clients are unaffected.”
Similar forms of activism against insurance entities have been commonplace – with protesters, particularly climate activists, having used not only paint but also fake oil and stink devices.
In 2021, an Insurance Rebellion campaigner was arrested after dousing the iconic Lloyd’s building in London with a bucket of green biodegradable paint.
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