A mob of pro-Palestine vandals who claimed to have taken, defaced and beheaded two busts of Israel's first President from the University of Manchester stole the wrong statue, it has emerged.
Demonstrators from Palestine Action had abducted what they thought were two busts of President Chaim Weizmann to mark the 107th anniversary of the signing of the Balfour Declaration.
The group had talked up their protests as an act of resistance against the so-called "Zionist colonisation of Palestine" and Britain's participation in the ongoing "colonisation, genocide and occupation" of the area.
They also shared footage online of balaclava-clad activists smashing a display case and removing the two busts - both of which were later vandalised, and one of which was beheaded.
But it has since come to light that one of the two busts is of Professor Harold Dixon - a chemist who taught at the university from 1886 to 1922.
Weizmann was also a senior lecturer at the now-Russell Group university, and has been labelled a "leading microbiologist of his time".
Alongside his studies, Prof Dixon was an amateur footballer who played for the University of Oxford in the second-ever FA Cup final in 1873.
As well as being awarded the Royal Medal by the Royal Society, Dixon supported women being able to study physics.
MORE PRO-PALESTINE CHAOS:
The University of Manchester confirmed that a bust of Weizmann had been beheaded, while a bust of Dixon was stolen.
After Saturday's social media stunt, Palestine Action showed the busts defaced with red graffiti reading "Smash Zionism".
Further images showed the stolen statues wearing keffiyehs - traditional Palestinian headscarves.
Then on Tuesday, the group shared a photograph of a now-headless bust without a head, writing: "First bust of Weizmann is dead. Soon, his Zionist project will be too!"
The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region released a statement condemning the vandalism and calling for Palestine Action to be proscribed.
It wrote: "This appalling behaviour is indicative of a pattern of behaviour where the organisation violently targets institutions and businesses who are linked with the State of Israel or businesses they perceive to undertake trade with Israel, causing millions of pounds of damage and intimidating employees.
"We urge the authorities and Home Secretary to fully proscribe Palestine Action as it is essential they face the full force of the law."
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said "intimidation, vandalism and criminality" would not be tolerated.
He said: "I will ask Greater Manchester Police to ensure that there is the fullest possible investigation into this appalling act of vandalism and that those responsible are held to account."
The University of Manchester has said a police investigation is underway - while the institution would hold those responsible for the thefts and vandalism to account.
Find Out More...
Demonstrators from Palestine Action had abducted what they thought were two busts of President Chaim Weizmann to mark the 107th anniversary of the signing of the Balfour Declaration.
The group had talked up their protests as an act of resistance against the so-called "Zionist colonisation of Palestine" and Britain's participation in the ongoing "colonisation, genocide and occupation" of the area.
They also shared footage online of balaclava-clad activists smashing a display case and removing the two busts - both of which were later vandalised, and one of which was beheaded.
But it has since come to light that one of the two busts is of Professor Harold Dixon - a chemist who taught at the university from 1886 to 1922.
Weizmann was also a senior lecturer at the now-Russell Group university, and has been labelled a "leading microbiologist of his time".
Alongside his studies, Prof Dixon was an amateur footballer who played for the University of Oxford in the second-ever FA Cup final in 1873.
As well as being awarded the Royal Medal by the Royal Society, Dixon supported women being able to study physics.
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The University of Manchester confirmed that a bust of Weizmann had been beheaded, while a bust of Dixon was stolen.
After Saturday's social media stunt, Palestine Action showed the busts defaced with red graffiti reading "Smash Zionism".
Further images showed the stolen statues wearing keffiyehs - traditional Palestinian headscarves.
Then on Tuesday, the group shared a photograph of a now-headless bust without a head, writing: "First bust of Weizmann is dead. Soon, his Zionist project will be too!"
The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region released a statement condemning the vandalism and calling for Palestine Action to be proscribed.
It wrote: "This appalling behaviour is indicative of a pattern of behaviour where the organisation violently targets institutions and businesses who are linked with the State of Israel or businesses they perceive to undertake trade with Israel, causing millions of pounds of damage and intimidating employees.
"We urge the authorities and Home Secretary to fully proscribe Palestine Action as it is essential they face the full force of the law."
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said "intimidation, vandalism and criminality" would not be tolerated.
He said: "I will ask Greater Manchester Police to ensure that there is the fullest possible investigation into this appalling act of vandalism and that those responsible are held to account."
The University of Manchester has said a police investigation is underway - while the institution would hold those responsible for the thefts and vandalism to account.
Find Out More...