The British anti-Israel group Palestine Action has claimed responsibility for the theft and desecration of two busts of Chaim Weizmann, Israel’s first president, at the University of Manchester. In a social media post, the group shared images of one of the busts with its decapitated head, declaring, “First bust of Weizmann is dead. Soon, his Zionist project will be too.”

The group targeted the busts due to Weizmann’s role in securing the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which Palestine Action contends led to the “ethnic cleansing of Palestine.” Weizmann, a biochemist who taught at the university, was a key figure in the early Zionist movement and instrumental in the creation of the State of Israel. The group published footage showing the busts being removed from their location on campus.

The incident has sparked outrage from UK officials. Lord Walney (John Woodcock), a British politician, condemned the act as an attempt to “terrorize British Jews” and warned that it could lead to increased violence. He noted that the destruction of the busts might be seen as a broader threat to Jewish communities in Britain.

Weizmann remains a respected figure in Israeli history for his efforts in securing international support for the establishment of Israel. The University of Manchester has not yet commented on the incident.