Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has said officers are investigating 'reports of criminal damage' at Barclays in Stockport town centre.

The damage is believed to be part of a pro-Palestine attack - both the bank's Stockport branch and its Bury site were targeted today (10 June).

The branch was daubed with red paint and had its windows smashed.

On social media Palestine Action wrote: "Palestine Action and @shut_system target 20 Barclays branches across England and Scotland!

"Our collaboration demanding divestment from Israel's weapons trade and fossil fuels has left the bank shattered."

A GMP spokesperson said: "We are investigating two reports of criminal damage from the early hours this morning (Monday 10 June) involving red graffiti over buildings on Central Street, Bury and Bridge Street, Stockport.

"To date, we have made 14 arrests in relation to 17 similar reports of criminal damage since October 2023 where buildings have been targeted with red paint across Greater Manchester. This behaviour is totally unacceptable and won't be tolerated."

A spokesperson for Barclays said: "We provide vital financial services to US, UK and European public companies that supply defence products to NATO and its allies.

"Barclays does not directly invest in these companies.​

"The defence sector is fundamental to our national security and the UK government has been clear that supporting defence companies is compatible with ESG (environmental, social and governance) considerations.

"Decisions on the implementation of arms embargos to other nations are the job of respective elected governments.

"While we support the right to protest, we ask that campaigners do so in a way which respects our customers, colleagues and property."

Councillor David Meller, leader of the Stockport Labour group, told Manchester Evening News: "My role as a local councillor is to foster community cohesion. To see this is disappointing. I do not think incidents like this help matters.

"It is defacing quite an important asset for the town centre and I think it has knocked out a few cash machines as well. To see incidents like this do no one any good at all."