Banksy-Style Anti-War Posters Spotted Across London's Underground As Arms Exhibition Opens

Banksy-Style Anti-War Posters Are Accusing The Government Of Hypocrisy

Fake tube posters, bus stop advertising boards and newspaper adverts have been appearing all over London in protest at a huge international arms fair being held in London.

The Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) exhibition., taking place between 15-18 October, sees weapons dealers trading guns, tanks, killer drones and evenillegal torture equipment.

The posters are thought to be designed by artists who displayed their work at Dismaland and Special Patrol Group, who are known for placing their guerilla art all over the city.

Despite the huge trade exhibition taking place at the capital's ExCel centre, it didn't appear on the venue's website or in any advertising campaigns.

Gavin Grindon, curator of Dismaland's Museum of Cruel Designs, reportedly told London24 that the DSEI protests were "a natural progression".

He said: “The posters appeared to commemorate the opening of DSEI, who don’t seem to have done much advertising of their own.”

A spokesperson for Transport for London said: “This is not an authorised advert. It is fly-posting and therefore an act of vandalism which we take extremely seriously. We have instructed our contractor to remove any found on our network.”

Amnesty International have separately launched an advertising campaign against DSEI, placing adverts in City AM, Metro and Evening Standard and planting billboards on London's streets.

Amnesty International UK Director, Kate Allen, said: "This is the advertising campaign the government didn’t want you to see.

“In the past, torture equipment has been on offer right on our doorstep. Things like illegal leg irons and electric-shock batons have been shamelessly advertised and it’s blindingly obvious the law needs tightening up.

“We need strengthened laws - and crucially we need proper enforcement – to stop Britain being used as a showroom for torturers to advertise their disgusting ware."

“The guest list reads like a who’s who of dodgy regimes. London should be ashamed of playing matchmaker between these companies and countries like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Azerbaijan.

“Sajid Javed needs to clean up this arms fair and stop the UK being used as a shop window for torture equipment.”

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