Banksy unveils new controversial mural on London’s Royal Courts of Justice

A new mural by the elusive street artist Banksy has appeared on the side of the Royal Courts of Justice in central London.

The artwork depicts a judge in a traditional wig and black robe striking a protester lying on the ground, with blood splattering their placard, BBC writes. 

While the mural does not reference a specific event or cause, it appeared two days after nearly 900 people were arrested during a London protest against the ban on Palestine Action.

Images shared on social media show the artwork has already been partially covered with large sheets of plastic and protected by two metal barriers. Security personnel are stationed outside the building, and the mural is positioned under a CCTV camera.

Banksy, who is based in Bristol, shared a photo of the piece on Instagram, captioning it: "Royal Courts Of Justice. London." The mural is painted on an external wall of the Queen’s Building, part of the Royal Courts of Justice complex.

Banksy’s stencilled graffiti frequently critiques government policy, war, and capitalism.

Last summer, the artist launched an animal-themed series across London, which included a gorilla lifting a shutter at London Zoo, piranhas swimming on a police sentry box, and a wolf howling on a satellite dish that was removed less than an hour after it appeared in Peckham, south London.

By Sabina Mammadli