Statue with Banksy's signature appears in London

A large statue has appeared in central London that appears to bear the signature of the elusive street artist Banksy.

The sculpture of a suited man walking forward off a plinth, while carrying a flag with one hand that also covers his face, was first spotted in St James's on Wednesday.

It sits on Waterloo Place, near statues of Edward VII, Florence Nightingale and the Crimean War Memorial.

'Banksy' has been scrawled on to the bottom of the plinth, leading to speculation the artist is behind it, although there has been no official confirmation.

Banksy, whose real identity is not officially known, has previously left a statue in London.

In 2004, The Drinker, a subversive take on Rodin's The Thinker, was installed on Shaftesbury Avenue before being stolen soon afterwards.

Waterloo Place is a historic area in central London known for its grand architecture and numerous statues, including the Duke of York, Edward VII, and the Memorial to the Crimea.

It is near to the Mall and Buckingham Palace.

Banksy is well known for high‑profile and often controversial works around the world, but his most recent pieces have all appeared in London.

In December, a mural appeared in Bayswater of two children lying on the ground, while in September, he claimed to have painted a scene on the Royal Courts of Justice complex of a protester lying on the ground holding a blood-spattered placard while a judge looms over him, wielding a gavel.

In 2024, the street artist created an animal trail around the capital with pieces including a goat, elephants, a gorilla, monkeys, piranhas, a rhino and pelicans.

Banksy is well known for high‑profile and often controversial works around the world, but his most recent pieces have all appeared in London.

In December, a mural appeared in Bayswater of two children lying on the ground, while in September, he claimed to have painted a scene on the Royal Courts of Justice complex of a protester lying on the ground holding a blood-spattered placard while a judge looms over him, wielding a gavel.

In 2024, the street artist created an animal trail around the capital with pieces including a goat, elephants, a gorilla, monkeys, piranhas, a rhino and pelicans.

-BBC