Banksy has confirmed a new mural in central London at the Royal Courts of Justice

"Just over a year after Banksy finished up a series of animal artworks that saw the likes of mountain goats, elephants, monkeys and rhinos appear across London, today (September 8) Banksy has confirmed he's behind another mural in the capital. This piece is at the Royal Courts of Justice, on the outside of the Queen's Building. It appears to show a judge striking a protester with a gavel, with the protester on the ground and holding a blood-spattered placard."

"According to , the mural has already been covered up with barriers and plastic sheets. As always with Banksy, no official explanation has been given of what the artwork represents. However, its appearance follows the UK government proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist group, and hundreds of arrests at Palestine Action protests. On Saturday (September 6), nearly 900 people were arrested at a Palestine Action protest in London."

The mural is on the Queen's Building at the Royal Courts of Justice. It depicts a judge in a traditional wig and black robe striking a protester with a gavel; the protester lies on the ground holding a blood-spattered placard. Banksy confirmed authorship of the artwork via an Instagram post. The image is darker than the playful animal series from the previous summer. Barriers and plastic sheets have been placed over the mural. No official explanation has been provided. The piece appeared after the UK proscribed Palestine Action and followed hundreds of arrests at related protests, including nearly 900 on September 6. Other Banksy works are on display in London museums and mapped around the city.

Read at Time Out London