Number of arrests after riots in Northern Ireland rises to 19
Nineteen arrests made following violent riots in Northern Ireland after a knife attack.
The Guardian World1 min read
Statue with Bansky's signature appears in London
TL;DR
A new statue attributed to Banksy has appeared in central London, featuring a suited man holding a flag. The statue was spotted in St James's and has sparked speculation about its authenticity as a Banksy work.
Key points
- A new statue appears in central London.
- The statue features a suited man with a flag covering his face.
- It is located on Waterloo Place near famous memorials.
- Banksy's signature is on the plinth, but authenticity is unconfirmed.
Mentioned in this story
LondonSt James's
Banksy
A large new statue has appeared in central London that appears to bear the signature of the elusive street artist Banksy.
The sculpture of a suited man marching forward off a plinth, while carrying a flag with one hand that also covers his face, was first spotted in St James's on Wednesday.
It sits on Waterloo Place, near statues of Edward VII, Florence Nightingale and the Crimean War Memorial.
'Banksy' has been scrawled onto the bottom of the plinth, leading to speculation the artist is behind it, although Banksy has not confirmed the work is his.
Banksy - whose real identity is not officially known - has staged high-profile works around the world, but his most recent pieces have all appeared in London.
In December, a mural appeared in Bayswater of two children lying on the ground, while in September, he claimed to have painted a scene on the Royal Courts of Justice complex of a protester lying on the ground holding a blood-spattered placard while a judge looms over him, wielding a gavel.
In 2024, the street artist created an animal trail around the capital with pieces featuring a goat, elephants, a gorilla, monkeys, piranhas, a rhino and pelicans among other animals.
Each time, they appeared to have been installed covertly and later confirmed as his work on his Instagram account.
His works, usually painted on private property, are widely interpreted as political statements and are often removed soon after they appear.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk
Q&A
What does the new Banksy statue in London depict?
The statue depicts a suited man marching forward while carrying a flag that covers his face.
Where exactly is the Banksy statue located in London?
The statue is located on Waterloo Place, near St James's, close to other notable statues.
Has Banksy confirmed that the new statue is his work?
No, Banksy has not confirmed whether the statue is his, despite his signature being found on the plinth.
