The radical activist network Shut the System has carried out its third violent assault on the Westminster headquarters of conservative think tank Policy Exchange, causing substantial damage in what the organisation has condemned as “an act of terrorism.”
The attack, which occurred on Thursday night, saw activists smash windows and spray blood-red paint across the offices on Old Queen Street, with images revealing extensive destruction to the prestigious research institute’s premises. The perpetrators immediately claimed responsibility, explicitly linking their actions to Policy Exchange’s stance on Palestine Action, which was controversially designated a terrorist organisation by the UK government in July 2025.
David Spencer, Crime and Justice chief at Policy Exchange and a former Detective Chief Inspector with the Metropolitan Police, issued a forceful denunciation of the incident. We have seen that Shut the System are prepared to use violence to undermine parliamentary democracy with outrageous attacks such as this,” Spencer declared.
Think Tank Vows to Continue Despite Intimidation
The influential conservative think tank, which has shaped numerous government policies since its founding in 2002, remains defiant in the face of repeated attacks. “We are committed to a vibrant market of ideas and Policy Exchange will not be intimidated by acts of sabotage and terrorism,” Spencer stated.
He characterised the assault as “a criminal act that should be condemned across the political spectrum by both left and right” and indicated the organisation expects governmental action regarding what he termed “this act of terrorism.
Policy Exchange, described by The Daily Telegraph as “the largest, but also the most influential think tank on the right,” has been instrumental in developing policies including free schools, police and crime commissioners, and protecting Armed Forces from prosecution under human rights laws.
Part of Wider Campaign of “Sustained Sabotage”
The attack on Policy Exchange forms part of what Shut the System has declared a “summer of sabotage” targeting institutions they oppose. The same activist network orchestrated disruptive operations against prominent financial corporations at the beginning of August, with City of London authorities investigating allegations that militants sabotaged facilities belonging to JP Morgan Chase and Allianz.
According to reports, perpetrators severed cables and applied adhesive to electrical infrastructure at these financial institutions. The collective declared these actions marked the commencement of “a period of sustained sabotage” targeting institutions financing fossil fuel projects.
Additional claims have emerged regarding an assault on Barclaycard’s Northampton headquarters, where activists allegedly severed the 5G connection linking the facility’s communications tower. A spokesperson from the Palestine faction of Shut the System justified their actions, stating: “Policy Exchange’s malign influence suppressing effective protest is unsurprising considering the reported $30k donation to Policy Exchange by ExxonMobil.
Palestine Action’s Controversial Terrorist Designation
The attack’s explicit connection to Palestine Action’s proscription highlights ongoing tensions over the UK government’s decision to ban the protest group. Palestine Action, founded in July 2020, was designated a terrorist organisation on 5 July 2025, following a parliamentary vote of 385 to 26.
The designation came after Palestine Action activists broke into RAF Brize Norton, the UK’s largest airbase, in June and sprayed two military aircraft with red paint, causing an estimated £7 million in damage. The group, which describes itself as using “disruptive tactics” to target companies involved in weapons manufacture for Israel, has carried out approximately 170 acts of protest in 2024 alone.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper justified the ban, stating: “Since its inception in 2020, Palestine Action has orchestrated a nationwide campaign of direct criminal action against businesses and institutions, including key national infrastructure and defence firms.
International Criticism of UK’s Approach
The UK’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action has drawn sharp criticism from international human rights bodies. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned that the ban “raises serious concerns that counter-terrorism laws are being applied to conduct that is not terrorist in nature.
Türk emphasised that “according to international standards, terrorist acts should be confined to criminal acts intended to cause death or serious injury or to the taking of hostages, for purpose of intimidating a population or to compel a government to take a certain action or not.”
Five UN Special Rapporteurs had previously urged the UK not to misuse terrorism laws against Palestine Action, stating that “mere property damage, without endangering life, is not sufficiently serious to qualify as terrorism.
Shifting Public Opinion on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
The incident occurs against a backdrop of evolving British attitudes towards the Israeli-Palestinian situation. Current polling from YouGov indicates British citizens favour acknowledging Palestinian sovereignty by a margin exceeding three to one, though opinions diverge regarding prerequisites for such recognition.
Public sympathy has shifted notably, with 37 per cent now supporting Palestinians – a five percentage point rise since May, representing the peak level since hostilities commenced. Simultaneously, those expressing equal sympathy for both parties has declined to a record low of 17 per cent, dropping four percentage points from earlier surveys.
Legal and Civil Liberties Concerns
Critics argue the proscription of Palestine Action represents a dangerous precedent for civil liberties. Amnesty International UK’s chief executive Sacha Deshmukh called the move “unprecedented legal overreach,” warning that it gave authorities “massive powers to arrest and detain people, suppress speech and reporting, conduct surveillance and take other measures.
Since the ban took effect, more than 700 people have been arrested for showing support for Palestine Action. The proscription makes it illegal to be a member, express support, or even wear clothing bearing the group’s logo, with penalties of up to 14 years in prison.
An Early Day Motion in Parliament condemned the government’s decision, stating it “constitutes a dangerous escalation in the crackdown on civil liberties” and recalled “the proud British history of disruptive protest by the Quakers, Suffragettes and others, whose actions were instrumental in winning rights, not committing terrorism.
Policy Exchange’s Response and History
Policy Exchange has weathered previous attacks while maintaining its influential position in Westminster politics. The think tank, which operates as a registered charity, has been at the forefront of conservative policy development for over two decades.
Former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney described Policy Exchange in 2018 as “multidisciplinary, highly influential, a productive force at the heart of Westminster and our political system.” Its reports have frequently informed government policy, with the Washington Post noting they “often inform government policy in Britain.
The organisation’s Judicial Power Project, which examines judicial power in Britain and argues against what it sees as judicial overreach, has been particularly influential in recent years, with former Attorney General Suella Braverman describing it as “so influential, and so often mentioned in Parliament, both on the left and right.
Ongoing Investigations
Metropolitan Police and City of London Police are investigating the latest attack on Policy Exchange, alongside the earlier incidents targeting financial institutions. No arrests have been announced in connection with Thursday night’s assault.
As tensions continue to escalate between activist groups and institutions they oppose, questions are being raised about the appropriate balance between legitimate protest and criminal activity, and whether the UK’s terrorism legislation is being appropriately applied to domestic protest movements.
The incident underscores deepening divisions in British society over both domestic policy issues and international conflicts, with activist groups increasingly willing to engage in property damage to advance their causes, whilst authorities respond with increasingly severe legal measures.
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