A man has been charged with racially-aggravated criminal damage after red paint was hurled at west London mosques, businesses, and a Palestinian mission.
Paint was thrown or sprayed at premises in Hammersmith and Fulham and Ealing on 11 occasions between October 16 and November 18.
The Palestinian Mission in Hammersmith was among sites targeted in the spate, which has been described by police as “anti-Muslim”.
Jonathan Katan, 61, has been charged in relation to the incidents, the Met said on Thursday.
Katan, from Ealing, was arrested by police on November 27.
He has now been charged with 11 counts of racially aggravated criminal damage, one count of a racially aggravated section 5 Public Order Act offence, and one count of racially aggravated section 4a Public Order Act offence.
He is due to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Friday (May 17).
The Palestinian Mission is a diplomatic mission, providing official representation for Palestinians in the UK.
Detective Superintendent Figo Forouzan, who leads the investigation, said: “These charges have come as a result of diligent police work by officers who have gathered evidence while providing support and reassurance to those affected."
Chief Superintendent Sean Wilson, in charge of policing in West Area which covers Hammersmith, added: “Officers have worked incredibly hard with the Crown Prosecution Service and communities in both boroughs of Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham to get an arrest and a charge in this case.
"This demonstrates how seriously we take allegations of hate crime against any of our communities.
“While criminal proceedings are now active, I ask the community to refrain from speculating on this case, particularly on social media, to avoid any risk of prejudice.”
