Gandhi Statue Vandalised with 'Terrorists' Graffiti

A bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Tavistock Square in central London was vandalised on Monday, with social-media images showing anti-India graffiti — including the word "Terrorists" — and white paint smeared on the plinth and bust, days before Gandhi Jayanti on Oct. 2. The Indian High Commission in London condemned the act as a "shameful" and "violent attack on the idea of nonviolence," said its team was on site coordinating with the Metropolitan Police and Camden Council, and urged immediate action. The Metropolitan Police and Camden Council are investigating while officials work to restore the statue. The bronze statue, created by Fredda Brilliant and unveiled in 1968 near University College London, is a long-standing focal point for annual tributes. The incident comes after protests in the UK earlier this year and follows past defacements of Gandhi statues, underscoring sensitivities around monuments and political dissent.