The City of London police have launched inquiries into sabotage claims by the activist group Shut the System, which says it has attacked the offices of leading financial institutions, including JP Morgan Chase, Allianz, and Barclaycard.
The group claimed its supporters cut cables and glued electrical cabinets in what it called the start of a “sustained sabotage campaign” against fossil fuel finance.
Banks and Insurers in the Spotlight
Shut the System said it targeted JP Morgan because it is the world’s largest banking investor in fossil fuels, and Barclays due to being Europe’s largest. The group also claimed responsibility for cutting a 5G cable at Barclaycard’s Northampton HQ.
Allianz was allegedly targeted because it is the sixth-largest insurer of fossil fuel projects and also provides insurance to Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems. A spokesperson for the group accused financial institutions of fueling “psychopathic greed” at the expense of billions worldwide.
Police Response and Ongoing Investigations
Superintendent Jo Cash of the City of London Police confirmed officers were aware of the social media posts but stressed that no reports of criminal damage have yet been filed. Police are currently in contact with the companies named and the wider business community as inquiries continue.
Northamptonshire Police also said no vandalism had been reported at Barclaycard’s headquarters. Allianz confirmed there had been no disruption to its business operations.
Activists Warn of Escalation by October
Shut the System has demanded that banks and insurers immediately stop financing fossil fuel expansion, align their emissions targets with the 1.5C climate goal, protect Indigenous rights, and scale up financing for a just transition.
The group warned that if the financial sector ignores its demands, it will escalate its actions by October. Shut the System previously sabotaged fibre optic cables in the City in January, causing significant internet disruption.
Shift in Activist Tactics
Unlike Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil, who embraced public accountability, Shut the System has adopted clandestine operations in response to stricter anti-protest laws. Many Just Stop Oil activists have faced lengthy sentences under new legislation, which critics say amounts to a crackdown on dissent.
A Shut the System spokesperson said the group had been “forced underground” but would continue its campaign, arguing that “history shows direct action and sabotage are highly effective” in forcing change during the climate emergency.
