- Written by Adam Durbin and Noor Nanji
- BBC News
The work was installed on a stop sign near Commercial Road in South London
The Metropolitan Police said they had arrested a man on suspicion of theft and criminal damage after a road sign bearing a work by the elusive street artist Banksy was removed.
The artwork – a red stop sign with three military drones on it – was unveiled on the corner of Commercial Road in Peckham, south-east London, on Friday.
It was taken by a man using bolt cutters within an hour while witnesses took photos.
Police said investigations are continuing.
The Met was called to investigate the alleged theft by Southwark Council.
Officers said the man remains in custody and a new traffic signal has been put in place to avoid endangering road users.
“We are aware of the videos shared showing the sign being removed,” police said, adding that anyone with information about the incident or the sign’s whereabouts should contact police.
The sign was removed an hour after Banksy confirmed it was real by posting a photo on his Instagram account.
In a video that went viral on social media, a man holding a banana grabbed a rented Lime bike to be held down by another, who reached up and cut out the artwork using bolt cutters.
He snatched it from the pole, then ran down the street and disappeared from sight.
On Saturday afternoon, a local street artist placed her own version of Banksy's lost artwork at the site, telling the BBC that art is for everyone.
On Saturday afternoon, a local street artist placed a replica of Banksy's lost artwork at the site
Banksy's Instagram followers widely interpreted his latest work as calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip after he confirmed its validity on social media.
Similar drone artworks appeared at Banksy's Walled Off hotel in Bethlehem in 2017, which he said had “the worst view of any hotel in the world” – a reference to Israel's controversial wall in the West Bank.
After the banner was removed, Southwark Council's deputy leader, Yasmin Ali, confirmed that the incident had been reported to police.
She said they had every confidence they would get her back.
“We're not just talking about a street sign here, it's a work of art that was put there for the community. It's street art and it's for the people,” she said.
. “Professional creator. Lifelong thinker. Reader. Beer buff. Troublemaker. Evil problem solver.”