Police have released CCTV footage after County Hall was sprayed with paint and windows were broken in Taunton.
Officers are investigating after red paint was thrown on the walls of County Hall, in The Crescent, and windows smashed at around 3.30am on Monday 29th July.
The Grade II-listed County Hall has been defaced previously because protesters want Somerset Council to evict a defence firm, which protesters claim has connections to Israel, from one of its commercial buildings in Bristol.
The company said it supplies the British military but added nothing is sent to Israel from its Bristol site.
Somerset Council said it is “disappointed at further criminal damage” to its building, which has now had its windows smashed and the plaques either side of the entrance broken.
Neighbourhood Sgt Jon O’Connor said: “We are releasing footage of four individuals who we believe may be able to help our enquiries.”
“They are all shown carrying backpacks, wearing long-sleeved tops and trousers. We believe they are also all wearing face coverings and hats.”
“We appreciate the subjects of the CCTV are not clear and shot from a distance, but we are asking members of the public to watch the footage and to contact us if they recognise any of the clothing or backpacks, the way in which they are walking or have any other distinguishing features.”
“We know there have been similar instances in the past and we are keeping an open-mind about whether these incidents are linked.”
“We have provided the local authority with crime prevention advice and will continue to work with them, as the building owners, on measures to prevent incidents such as this from happening again.”
If you recognise the individuals in the clip, or were in the area and saw or heard anything suspicious, please contact us on 101 and quote reference 5224197217 to the call handler.
