Cambridgeshire Police have confirmed they will take no further action following an investigation into an activist attack on a historical portrait of Lord Balfour at Trinity College, part of the University of Cambridge. The portrait, painted in 1914 by Philip Alexius de László, was slashed and defaced with red paint during the incident on March 8, 2024.
A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police stated: “A thorough investigation was carried out but the investigation has now been filed pending any new information coming to light.” Despite the attack being filmed and shared on social media, authorities have not pursued further legal action at this time.
Trinity College has strongly condemned the act of vandalism, expressing its commitment to supporting law enforcement in the event new evidence surfaces. In a statement, the college said, “Trinity College will continue to cooperate with the police so that the perpetrators can be brought to justice.” Meanwhile, the damaged portrait is undergoing restoration.
The activist group Palestine Action claimed responsibility for the attack, justifying it as a protest against Lord Balfour’s historical role in the 1917 Balfour Declaration. This declaration expressed Britain’s support for the establishment of a Jewish national home in Palestine, a moment widely regarded as a key historical event in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
In a statement, Palestine Action declared: “Palestine Action ruined a 1914 painting by Philip Alexius de László inside Trinity College, University of Cambridge, of Lord Arthur James Balfour – the colonial administrator and signatory of the Balfour Declaration.”
The incident gained widespread attention after footage of the activist defacing the artwork was circulated on social media. The vandalism, which included slashing the canvas and spraying it with red paint, sparked debates about historical accountability, political activism, and the limits of protest.
Although the police have closed their investigation for now, Trinity College has pledged to continue its cooperation with authorities should new evidence arise. Meanwhile, the historic painting remains under restoration.
