HSBC have slammed protesters who sprayed red paint over their Sheffield city centre building saying it threatened the safety of their workers.

The bank has released a comment after a group of vandals took to their Grosvenor House building with rocks and paint on Monday 1 March.

The statement said: “Criminal acts against our offices and branches threaten the safety of our colleagues, customers, and our ability to serve the community, including some of the most vulnerable people who rely on our network.”

The building suffered damage to several front windows and revolving doors, as well as large quantities of paint across the front. “Free Palestine” and “Drop Elbit” had been painted on a pillar in front of the office.

This incident followed similar vandalism which occurred last month on London Street, Norwich.

Opening its first office in Birmingham in 1836, HSBC has been in business for over 160 years and has 23,800 employees across the UK and approximately 211,940 worldwide, with more than 2,670 branches across 65 countries worldwide.

In December 2023, the Sheffield branch relocated to The Moor and aimed to be the most accessible branch yet, with wider doorways for mobility assistance, mobility scooter parking and braille signage, on-demand voice guidance and quiet rooms to promote mental wellbeing.

HSBC has historically had links to the Israeli defence company Elbit Systems UK, a company known to be selling weapons to Israel.

However it publicly cut ties in 2018 after years of pressure from human rights groups and divested all shares in the company.

HSBC have refuted any claims that they are supplying Israel’s military with weapons.

HSBC said: “Safety is our priority, and we are actively assisting law enforcement to ensure accountability for these attacks.”

Staff at the centre are currently working to clear the paint away and although the branch is surrounded by security barriers it is still open and functional to the general public.

As of current, no individuals or groups have taken accountability for the actions that occurred on Monday, however South Yorkshire Police have confirmed that they are searching for a “group wearing face coverings”.