Man Arrested Following Theft of Former Israeli President’s Bust from University

Law enforcement officials have apprehended a 25-year-old male in connection with a break-in at the University of Manchester’s chemistry building on Oxford Road. This arrest is part of an ongoing inquiry into a burglary that occurred on November 1, during which a bust of Chaim Weizmann, Israel’s first president and a former university academic from the early 20th Century, was stolen. A bust of another former academic, Harold Baily-Dixon, was also removed during the same incident. The Palestine Action Group previously stated it had “abducted” the sculptures. The group indicated this action was intended to commemorate the Balfour Declaration, issued on November 2, 1917, which saw British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour express support for the establishment of a “national home for Jewish people.” Following the event, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham characterized the incident as “an appalling act of vandalism.” He further stated that he “supported the University of Manchester in reassuring all students and staff, particularly those from the Jewish community, of their safety on campus.” The intrusion, footage of which was recorded and disseminated on social media platforms, occurred concurrently with reported targeting by the Palestine Action Group of the London premises belonging to the Britain-Israel Communications and Research Centre and the Jewish National Fund. Additionally, the group asserted responsibility for applying red paint to structures at the University of Cambridge in advance of the November 2 anniversary of the 1917 Balfour Declaration. Greater Manchester Police confirmed that search warrants had been carried out earlier as part of their ongoing inquiry. Detective Chief Inspector Jill Billington stated: “We know that this incident has caused considerable distress across the community, many of which have come to Manchester to work and study.” She added: “We understand that this has caused upset and unrest and we know that the shockwaves are being felt much wider than the local student community.”