The Metropolitan Police have arrested a married couple for using fake blood to smear “bloody handprints” on the gates outside Downing Street as part of a protest against the Israel-Hamas war.

Virginia Moffat, 58, and Chris Cole, 60, were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after red paint was also thrown at the gates, the Met Police said.

Moffat and Cole, from Dorset, were later named by Christian campaign group FigTree. According to a statement by FigTree, the couple said the Government had “blood on its hands” for refusing to demand a ceasefire in Gaza, and the Christian protesters called it “a massacre of biblical proportions.”

A statement released by Moffat and Cole detailed their reasoning for the demonstration at Downing Street: “Britain’s and Israel’s justification for this slaughter is that Israel is acting in ‘self-defence’; that the deaths of innocents are to be regretted, but Israel must be allowed to act in its own defence.

“This is nonsense. Again and again, leading international lawyers have clearly stated that ‘self-defence’ cannot justify the slaughter of so many innocent Palestinians.”

“As bombs rain down on Gaza, destroying homes, hospitals, families, schools, cultural centres, mosques, churches and civic buildings, we cannot help but act.

“By refusing to back a ceasefire, and continuing to supply arms to Israel, our government is complicit with this slaughter.”

According to the Met Police, the incident occurred just before 12pm on Friday.

“We have been clear that we will facilitate lawful protest but where this strays into criminality we will take swift action,” said Chief Superintendent Joseph Mcdonald.

“Arrests were made within minutes of this incident taking place and both people are now in custody.”

Anyone with information that could assist police is asked to call call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote CAD2366/29Dec.