The London Marathon was disrupted by a pro-Palestine protest as activists threw red paint on Tower Bridge.
Two protesters from the group Youth Demand jumped into the path of the men’s elite race and threw red powder paint across the road, calling for a trade embargo on Israel.
The incident occurred around 10.35am on Sunday morning, with the activists jumping barriers before scattering the paint.
Images shared by the group show the pair standing on the road wearing t-shirts emblazoned with “Youth Demand: Stop Arming Israel”. City of London police swiftly arrested the individuals.
Youth Demand identified the protesters as 18-year-old Willow Holland from Bristol and Cristy North, a live-in carer from Nottingham.
In a statement released by the group, Holland explained her actions: “I am taking action with Youth Demand because I have run out of other options: thousands are being killed in Gaza, our government is making no effort to stop it and no other course of action, marches or rallies, has worked.
“I refuse to be complicit in a genocide funded by our politicians.”
Youth Action said the demonstration came after the UN’s World Food Programme announced its food stocks in Gaza have been completely “depleted” by Israel’s blockade.
According to the group, Ms North said: “I’m taking action today at the London marathon because the people in Palestine are running out of time.
“We have tried all other avenues to get the government to stop arming Israel and yet our government is still enabling a genocide.
“They are making the UK people complicit in breaking UK domestic law by using our taxes to arm a genocidal state, breaking humanitarian international law.”
The BBC TV feed cut to the elite men’s race moments after the leaders had crossed Tower Bridge and there appeared to be no obvious impact on the runners, who passed through unobstructed.
More than 56,000 participants are expected on the 26.2-mile course through the capital on Sunday for the 45th TCS London Marathon.
The London Marathon has been approached for comment.
