Andy Burnham slams pro-Palestinian activists' theft of Israeli president busts as 'appalling act of vandalism'

Andy Burnham has described the theft by pro-Palestinian activists of two busts of Israel's first president from the University of Manchester as an 'appalling act of vandalism'.

The Mayor called on police to carry out the 'fullest possible investigation' into last night's theft, in which Palestine Action protesters smashed into a cabinet inside the chemistry building and snatched sculptures of Chaim Weizmann.

Mr Weizmann taught at the university in the early 1900s after moving to England from Belarus and became president of Israel in 1948, shortly after the country was established.

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Palestine Action shared a clip on X, of two hooded protesters using hammers to smash their way through the glass cabinet. In a statement, the group said: "Today, Palestine Action have marked 107 years since the Balfour Declaration, by taking two sculptures of Israel’s first president, Chaim Weizmann, from its display case at University of Manchester.

"Weizmann secured the Balfour Declaration, a British pledge written 107 years ago, which began the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by signing the land away", the group claimed.

Mr Burnham said: "Greater Manchester is proudly a city-region that supports free speech and people's right to protest - but never when it crosses the line into intimidation, vandalism and criminality. I will ask Greater Manchester Police to ensure that there is the fullest possible investigation into this appalling act of vandalism and that those responsible are held to account.

"I will also support the University of Manchester in reassuring all students and staff, particularly those from the Jewish community, of their