U.K. police investigate ‘racially aggravated’ vandalism of Gandhi statue in London

Britain’s Metropolitan Police said connected Tuesday (September 30, 2025) that it has begun its probe into the transgression harm caused to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at Tavistock Square successful London, a transgression which the unit is treating arsenic “racially aggravated”.

The constabulary said it was called to the iconic statue connected Sunday (September 28) evening arsenic reports emerged of the plinth being defaced with disturbing graffiti, condemned by the High Commission of India successful London arsenic a “violent attack”. 

“We person begun an probe into reports of transgression harm to a Mahatma Gandhi statue astatine Tavistock Square Gardens successful Camden,” a Metropolitan Police connection said.

“The incidental is being treated arsenic racially aggravated and enquiries are ongoing. No arrests person been made astatine this time,” it said, appealing for witnesses to travel guardant with immoderate accusation that could assistance the investigation.

The section Camden Council authorities, meanwhile, confirmed that their cleaning teams were sent to the tract to measure the harm and are progressive with the restoration work.

On Monday (September 29), the Indian High Commission successful the U.K. powerfully condemned the vandalism arsenic an onslaught connected the bequest of the Mahatma conscionable days earlier Gandhi Jayanti connected October 2.

“The High Commission of India successful London is profoundly saddened and powerfully condemns the shameful enactment of vandalism of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi astatine Tavistock Square successful London,” the mission’s societal media connection reads.

“This is not conscionable vandalism, but a convulsive onslaught connected the thought of non-violence, 3 days earlier the International Day of Non-Violence, and connected the bequest of the Mahatma. We have taken this up powerfully with section authorities for contiguous action, and our squad is already connected site, coordinating with authorities to reconstruct the statue to its archetypal dignity,” it states.

Gandhi Jayanti, designated arsenic International Day of Non-Violence by the United Nations, is commemorated with floral tributes and Gandhi’s favourite bhajans astatine the monument successful London annually connected October 2.

The bronze sculpture, created with the backing of the India League, was unveiled successful 1968 astatine the quadrate arsenic a motion to Mahatma Gandhi’s days arsenic a instrumentality pupil astatine the adjacent University College London. The sculpture depicts Gandhi successful a classical meditative pose, with the inscription connected the plinth saying: “Mahatma Gandhi, 1869-1948”.

Over time, Tavistock Square Gardens has go known arsenic a bid parkland and a quiescent spot for reflection, with the Gandhi statue taking centre-stage surrounded by cherry trees commemorating victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

It is 1 of 2 memorials that big the yearly Gandhi Jayanti ceremonies successful London, the 2nd and newer bronze statue located astatine Parliament Square overlooking the Palace of Westminster.