INSURANCE firms complicit in climate disaster, human rights abuses and Israel’s genocide in Gaza were stormed by protesters as marches were held across the country today.

Two were arrested for climbing one of the Corinthian columns in front of the Royal Exchange in the City of London, dropping a banner bearing the legend “Boycott.”

Other protesters “crashed” insurers’ offices and occupied foyers as marches took place in city centres as part of the Boycott Bloody Insurance (BBI) campaign.

Activists targeted the offices of Aviva, AIG, Allianz and Axa for investing more £1.3 billion in companies supplying military equipment used by Israel since October 7 2023.

Protests took place in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Lancaster, Guildford, Blackburn and Preston. 

Groups involved in the protests include Coal Action Network, Palestine Youth Movement (PYM), Parents 4 Palestine, Energy Embargo for Palestine, Tipping Point UK, Youth Front for Palestine and Axe Drax.

Andrew Taylor of BBI said: “Insurers underwrite weapons, detention centres and fossil fuels, causing environmental destruction, human rights abuses and genocide.

“We are calling on organisations across the UK to boycott deadly insurance companies.

“Change starts in our communities. Deadly insurers profit from our local councils, churches, charities and schools.

“We need to hurt insurers’ bottom line to force them to stop cashing in on death and suffering.”

“Insurance, just like logistics, is crucial for arms transfers to oppressive regimes,” said Yara Derbas from PYM. “Our actions target the corporate complicity enabling Israel’s ongoing crimes.”

“This isn’t just about Palestine — it’s about global justice and ending corporate exploitation.”

Malachi (not their real name) of Shareholders Show Up campaign added: “Like so many other people without British citizenship, I am being criminalised and punished, held hostage indefinitely, without the opportunity to rebuild my life.

“It feels like a slap in the face to see that Serco, meanwhile, is being given chance after chance, despite numerous allegations of racism and abuse, and previously being fined for fraud and false accounting related to GPS tagging. So why is Aviva insuring this?”

Research by BBI says that Allianz underwrites Elbit Systems, the main supplier of arms to Israel.

Aviva also reportedly underwrites PetroChina, the third-biggest fossil fuel company globally by revenue, as well as G4S and Serco, who run many of Britain’s migrant detention centres; AXA gives cover to Drax, Britain’s single largest carbon emitter; and AIG underwrites BP, a supplier of a third of Israel’s total oil supply since the start of its Gaza genocide.

Aviva, AIG, Allianz and Axa were contacted for comment.