Will McCallum, co-executive director of Greenpeace UK, was among six activists arrested after red dye was poured into the pond outside the US Embassy in London, according to Greenpeace.

The protest, staged early Thursday morning, was aimed at drawing attention to US arms sales to Israel.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrests, stating that six individuals were detained on suspicion of criminal damage and conspiracy to cause criminal damage. Authorities said the dye was poured into a pond located beside the embassy, which is accessible via a public footpath. Police emphasized that there was no breach of the embassy’s secure perimeter.

Greenpeace said 12 activists were involved in tipping 300 litres of biodegradable, non-toxic, food-grade red dye into the water to symbolize the bloodshed in Gaza linked to American arms exports. The environmental organization stressed that the dye posed no risk to people, wildlife, or the environment.

The US Embassy condemned the act, saying it caused damage to a 1.5 million gallon water supply and wasted a local environmental resource. While acknowledging the right to peaceful protest, the embassy stated it "strongly condemns any acts of violence or property damage."

Greenpeace criticized the arrests as evidence of increasing restrictions on the right to protest in the UK.

The protest comes amid ongoing conflict in Gaza, where over 50,840 people have been killed since Israel began military operations in response to Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage. The United States remains Israel’s largest arms supplier. After a temporary ceasefire collapsed in March, fighting resumed, with both Israel and Hamas blaming each other for the breakdown. Photo by Veedar at English Wikipedia.