New work by street artist Banksy has appeared on the wall of the Royal Courts of Justice in London – showing a judge attacking a protester with a gavel – in an apparent reference to the arrest of hundreds of demonstrators.
The artwork, which is on the Queen’s Building at the courts complex, has already been concealed by large sheets of black plastic and two metal barriers.
The artist, whose identity is the source of constant speculation, posted a photo of the work on Instagram before it was covered up.
He included the caption: “Royal Courts Of Justice. London.”
A protester is seen on the ground holding a blood-spattered placard, while the judge, in a wig and gown, looms over them wielding a gavel.
The mural is being seen as a possible reaction to the arrest of hundreds of demonstrators at the weekend supporting banned group Palestine Action.
Responding to Banksy’s work, a spokesperson for campaign group Defend Our Juries, which organised Saturday’s rally, said it “powerfully depicts the brutality unleashed by Yvette Cooper on protesters by proscribing Palestine Action”.
They said: “When the law is used as a tool to crush civil liberties, it does not extinguish dissent, it strengthens it.”
On Monday, security officials stood guard alongside the barriers concealing the art in an area which sits under a CCTV camera.
Banksy’s stencilled graffiti often comments on political issues, with many works critical of government policy, war and capitalism.
Last summer, he made headlines with his animal-themed collection of nine works in the capital.
They concluded with a gorilla appearing to lift up a shutter on the entrance to London Zoo.
Other notable work included piranhas swimming on a police sentry box in the City of London, turning the box into what looked like a giant fish tank.
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Another included the silhouette of a howling wolf, painted on a satellite dish on the flat roof of a shop in Peckham, south London.
The satellite dish was stolen hours after the artwork was unveiled.
