Donald Trump has labelled members of a pro-Palestinian group as “terrorists” following an incident of vandalism at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland. This event unfolded in the early hours of March 8, when the resort's clubhouse and greens were defaced with graffiti, including the phrase “Gaza is not 4 sale.”
The incident occurred amidst a series of pro-Palestinian protests across the UK, sparked by Trump's controversial remarks suggesting that the United States could "take over" Gaza and "own it". In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed he had been informed by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer about the arrests made in connection with the vandalism. He noted, “I was just informed by Prime Minister Starmer... that they caught the terrorists who attacked the beautiful Turnberry.”
In total, a 33-year-old man, Kieran Robson, has been charged with malicious mischief related to the incident and has made a court appearance at Ayr Sheriff Court, where he did not enter a plea. He was released on bail pending a further examination of the case. Additionally, a 75-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman were arrested in connection with the vandalism but were later released pending inquiries.
Trump's comments regarding the alleged perpetrators included a demand for severe punishment, as he stated, “You cannot let things like this attack happen,” expressing gratitude for the investigative efforts of UK law enforcement. However, it has been reported that Trump inaccurately claimed three individuals were in prison due to the incident.
The protest group Palestine Action, which took responsibility for the vandalism, characterised their actions as a direct response to what they described as the U.S. administration's intent to “ethnically cleanse Gaza.” They shared additional footage and statements on social media, stating that there is “no-one in prison for this action” and refuting Trump's claims.
Following the vandalism, a spokesperson for Trump Turnberry described the act as “childish” and reaffirmed the resort’s status as a “national treasure” in the golfing world. Meanwhile, Police Scotland continues to investigate the matter, emphasising that inquiries are ongoing despite the recent arrests.
This series of events coincided with discussions between Trump and Prime Minister Starmer about potential tariffs as well as events in Ukraine, although it remains unclear how much the vandalism was touched upon in their conversations.
The vandalism incident at Trump Turnberry has not only drawn attention to the resort but has also sparked a broader dialogue around the ongoing geopolitical tensions relating to Gaza and the Palestinian population. The situation remains dynamic as the investigations and political responses continue to unfold.
Source: Noah Wire Services