Man arrested over alleged removal of new Banksy art piece in London
A man has reportedly been arrested after allegedly removing a new Banksy art piece from the streets of London.
The new work, three military drones painted on top of a red stop sign, was showcased on the elusive street artist's social media yesterday.
Less than an hour after the post, two men were filmed trying to take it down from a junction in Peckham in the city's south-east.
READ MORE: Banksy artwork removed less than an hour after artist revealed it online
A man has reportedly been arrested for allegedly removing a new Banksy art piece. CNN
Witnesses watched the man run off with the sign after it was removed. CNN
The video showed one man holding a Lime bike while another man was standing on top and appeared to use bolt cutters to tear the sign off.
"He ripped it off and ran across the road and ran away," a witness told PA Media.
"He said nothing. He didn't seem to care that much about the art itself."
A man has since been arrested on suspicion of theft and criminal charges, Metropolitan Police confirmed to the BBC.
Authorities also told the outlet a new traffic sign had been put up in its place to avoid endangering motorists while police investigate the matter.
Several people on social media interpreted the art as a call for ceasefire in the ongoing Israel and Hamas conflict in the Middle East.
READ MORE: Mystery artist Banksy confirms his first name in resurfaced BBC clip
Many interpreted the art as commentary on the ongoing Israel and Hamas conflict. Banksy/Instagram
Banksy's works have been notorious targets for theft and destruction in the past.
Just last year, eight men were convicted in Paris after stealing the "sad girl" painting on the exit door of the Bataclan concert hall, also reported by CNN.
The artist himself has also partaken in the destruction of his own art.
His painting of a girl with a red balloon automatically shredded itself moments after it was sold for $1.4 million in 2018.
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