Second arrest after Banksy artwork removal

Image source, PA Media

A second man has been arrested on suspicion of theft and criminal damage after a road sign featuring by work street artist Banksy was removed in London, police have said.

The artwork, a red stop sign with three military drones added on, was unveiled in Commercial Way, Peckham, on Friday.

The Met said the second arrested man is in his 40s and remains in custody.

Witnesses filmed the sign being taken by a man using bolt cutters within an hour of it being authenticated by Banksy when he posted a photo on his Instagram account.

The Met launched an investigation after receiving a report of a theft from Southwark Council.

In a video that later appeared on social media, a man could be seen holding a Lime hire bike steady as a second man stood on its saddle and reached up to cut the artwork free using bolt cutters.

Wrenching it off the post, he then ran down the street and out of sight.

After the artwork was removed, a new traffic sign was been put up by the local authority on Friday to avoid endangering people.