FOUR people have been arrested after Taunton's County Hall was once again damaged by paint this morning (Thursday, April 4).

At around 7.50am, police were called to the Grade II listed public building, where they discovered significant damage.

Two men and two women were arrested. Police officers are currently on the scene to assist in removing the detainees, who "appear to be attached to one another".

The council has said that it believes the "attack" to be in connection to a legacy commercial investment which it has already agreed to dispose of.

Last month, Block A of the Somerset Council building was covered in red paint and black graffiti reading ‘Elbit out’, ‘Evict Elbit’, and ‘Blood on your hand’.

Elbit Systems is an Israeli-based defence contractor which had supplied the Israeli army with equipment since 1966.

In February, a Somerset Council’s executive committee meeting at Deane House in Taunton was temporarily halted following a vocal protest against the war in Gaza.

To tackle the current financial crisis the council proposed to close the budget gap by selling off the commercial investments it inherited from the four district councils – including offices at Aztec West 600, within a business park on the northern edge of Bristol.

At the time, members of Palestine Action urged the council to evict the current tenant of the offices – Elbit System.

The offices at Aztec West 600 – near junction 16 of the M5 – were purchased by Sedgemoor District Council in 2020, with Somerset Council inheriting the investment when it assumed power in April 2023.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: "Four people were arrested today, Thursday, April 4, after County Hall in Taunton was damaged by paint.

"Police were called to the scene just after 7.50am and found significant damage.
Officers arrested two men, one in his twenties and one in his thirties, and two women one aged in her thirties and one in her seventies, just after 8.15am on suspicion of criminal damage.

"The four were subsequently further arrested on suspicion of locking onto a person.

"Specialist officers attended to assist in removing the detainees, who have since been transported to a custody unit, where they remain.

"If you saw or have any information which could help the investigation into the damage, please call 101 and give the reference 5224085382."
 

A Somerset Council spokesperson said: "A further attack and criminal damage has been made against public property this morning which will inevitably result in additional costs at the public expense.

"We believe this incident relates to a legacy commercial investment which we have already agreed to dispose of.

“We have sought to engage protestors over their concerns but today’s events show their preference to cause damage rather than engage in meaningful conversation.

“While we respect the right of individuals and groups to protest, we strongly condemn this style of protest damaging a Grade II listed public building."