A new Banksy has appeared in Knightsbridge opposite the French Embassy. The artwork criticises the use of teargas and heavy handed tactics by the French police on refugees in the Calais “Jungle” camp. The mural was unsuccessfully covered before it was finally boarded up with plywood. Building developers said they covered the piece in order to preserve it.
The mural derives its image from the poster for the musical Les Miserables and depicts a girl with tears in her eyes as a can of CS gas lies beneath her. Mike Sadler, director of Cheval Property Management Limited, said the firm was “discussing future plans for the artwork”.
Banksy has created a number of other works inspired by the refugee crisis. the painting of the small girl, sprayed on the corner of a large complex, includes an interactive QR code. When scanned with a mobile phone, it links to a video that appears to show teargas and rubber bullets being used during a raid at the camp on 5 January.