Woman arrested after HSBC UK in Glasgow 'vandalised'

Image by Glasgow Times staff <i>(Image: Image by Glasgow Times staff)</i>
Image by Glasgow Times staff (Image: Image by Glasgow Times staff)
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A woman has been arrested after a Glasgow bank was 'vandalised' this morning which 'threatened' the safety of workers.

HSBC UK had its windows smashed and red paint thrown on its exterior at around 3.20am today.

(Image: Image taken by Glasgow Times staff.)

Multiple police vans were spotted on the scene and forensic officers appeared to be sweeping for prints. A police cordon was also in place around the bank's perimeter.

A spokesperson for HSBC UK condemned the 'criminal acts' saying: "Criminal acts against our 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.

"Safety is our priority, and we are actively assisting law enforcement to ensure accountability for these attacks and restore normal service as quickly as possible."

(Image: Images taken by Glasgow Times staff)

A 25-year-old woman was arrested as a result of the alleged incident and enquiries are ongoing.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 3.20am on Friday, January 30, 2026, police received a report of a vandalism at a commercial property in Buchanan Street, Glasgow.

"A 25-year-old woman has been arrested and enquiries are ongoing."

(Image: Images taken by Glasgow Times staff)

 It is the third time the branch has been targeted in just seven weeks.

We previously reported that on December 12, cops taped off the corner of Buchanan Street and Argyle Street after red paint was thrown over a HSBC and the windows of the building were smashed.

The bank shut the store to allow for police to investigate.

Additionally, the bank was targeted on January 22 of this year and again, the windows were smashed.

The slogans ‘Blood Money’ and ‘Shut Elbit Down’ appeared to have been painted on the building, located on the corner of Buchanan and Argyle Streets. 

Meanwhile, protestors gathered outside HSBC’s Buchanan Street location in early January, calling on the bank to cut all ties to Elbit Systems.

The firm officially divested from the defence company in 2018 following pressure from activists, its parent corporation HSBC Holdings plc held shares worth more than £6million as of September 30, 2025.

That does not necessarily mean that the bank has its own capital invested in Elbit, as it may be a client or fund holding managed by HSBC.

(Image: Images supplied by Glasgow Times)

It comes as several places around Glasgow - including other banks - have been targeted in recent months.

We previously reported that a protest had been held at the Barclays campus in Tradeston in November. Mothers Against Genocide which is a group which organises "for Palestine and all oppressed peoples" placed signs on the railings along the River Clyde including phrases such as "stop banking on genocide" and "Barclays bombs have killed 17,000+ children in Gaza ".

The bank reportedly holds more than £2b worth of shares in companies such as BAE Systems, Boeing and Raytheon which supply, directly or indirectly, the Israel Defence Forces.

It also previously held shares in Elbit Systems, Israel's largest private arms company, but by October 31 of 2024 had sold its 16,345 shares worth $3.4m.

Barclays also provides loans and underwriting to various companies which supply Israel with weapons and military technology.

Similarly, the James McCune building at the University of Glasgow was doused in red paint in an apparent protest over its investment in the arms trade in November. 

According to the Glasgow University Arms Divestment Coalition, the university has more than £6.8m worth of investments in the arms industry, and has also received around £600,000 in research funding from BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce since 2017.

Students and others have called on the University of Glasgow to cease all investments in arms companies, meaning any company which derives more than 10% of its profits from manufacturing weapons.

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