Man in his 20s arrested on suspicion of theft and criminal damage after removing an installation in south London.
British police have arrested a man suspected of stealing a Banksy artwork just hours after it was installed on a London street corner.
The man in his 20s was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of theft and criminal damage, London's Metropolitan Police said, after the installation, consisting of a stop sign decorated with military drones, was removed.
“This incident is currently being investigated by officers,” a police spokesman said.
“Anyone with information about the incident or the whereabouts of the sign is asked to call police.”
The suspect's arrest came after a video emerged showing a man with bolt cutters climbing onto a bicycle with the help of another man to remove the artwork.
In the video, a person's voice can be heard saying, “This makes me so angry,” as the man runs away from the scene with the sign under his arm.
Jasmine Ali, deputy leader of Southwark Council in the Peckham district of south London, called for the artwork to be returned.
“It should not have been removed and we would like to have it back so everyone in the community can enjoy Banksy’s brilliant work,” Ali said.
Banksy, whose real name and identity are unconfirmed, has often cast a critical eye on conflict in his artwork, and some fans online speculated that the installation was aimed at the war in Gaza.