[fielder]

Banksy Arrested In London, Identity Revealed

London, England — The
England-based graffiti artist, political activist, film director, and
painter that for years has gone by the pseudonymous name of Banksy, was
arrested yesterday by police in London.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

PRLog (Press Release) - Feb. 22, 2013
- London, England — The England-based graffiti artist, political
activist, film director, and painter that for years has gone by the
pseudonymous name of Banksy, was arrested yesterday by police in London.
After hours of questioning and a raid of his London art studio, his
true name and identity have finally been revealed.

London Police
say Banksy’s real name is Paul William Horner, a 39-year old male born
in Bristol, England. The BBC has also confirmed this information with
his PR agent Jo Brooks and the website that acts as a handling service
on behalf of the artist, Pest Control.

London Police Chief Wayne
Leppard held a press conference to answer questions about how Banksy was
finally apprehended. “We had a 24-hour Anti-Graffiti Task Force
monitoring different groups known to have associated with Banksy. We
received word that around 2am a group of individuals left a flat
speculated to be one of Banky’s art studios. This group was followed by
agents and once vandalism had occurred, we then arrested the group, 5
men total. These individuals all had ID on them except for one, and that
is the one we believed to be Banksy,” Leppard said. “We then raided the
studio where this group was last seen leaving from. Inside we found
thousands of dollars of counterfeit money along with future projects of
vandalism. We also found a passport and ID of a Paul William Horner who
matched the description of the man that we are currently holding.”
Leppard continued, “Horner is currently being held without bail on
charges of vandalism, conspiracy, racketeering and counterfeiting. We
are also holding the other four individuals whose names we are not
releasing at this time.”

After today’s arrest it is unclear who
else will be sought in connection with Banksy’s arrest. CNN spoke with
Kyle Brock who is a project manager for Banksy says he is now worried
that charges could be brought against him also. “If they spent this many
man-hours and brought this many charges against Banksy, I can’t imagine
that he’ll be the only one to go down in all of this,” Brock said. “All
the beauty Paul Horner brought to this world, and the London Police can
only see it as vandalism. It’s such a shame.”

The graffiti
artist that goes by the name Space Invader told reporters he does not
agree with the arrest or outing of Banksy’s identity. “He’s just doing
art. That’s what he was doing and that’s what he’ll continue to do,”
Invader said. “For the London Police to setup some 24-hour task force
just to catch Banksy is ridiculous. I hope we hear plenty of noise from
the good tax-paying citizens of London about this.”

Banksy’s
identity was long speculated to be Robin Gunningham, a man born in
Bristol, England in 1973. Known for his contempt for the government in
labeling graffiti as vandalism, Banksy displays his art on public walls
and even going as far as to build physical prop pieces. He does not sell
his work directly; however, art auctioneers have been known to attempt
to sell his street art on location and leave the problem of its removal
in the hands of the winning bidder.

London Police are not releasing any pictures of Horner or any further information at this time.

[chaturz]

is this serious?

[Tompkins]

Load of rubbish...


These individuals all had ID on them except for one, and that
is the one we believed to be Banksy,”

[Sundowner]

The only site running with this is www.prlog.org/12085513-banksy-arrested-in-london-identity-revealed.html which is a site where anyone can upload stories....

[RolexDave]

Feb 22, 2013 21:43:59 GMT 1 fielder said:

Banksy Arrested In London, Identity Revealed

London, England — The
England-based graffiti artist, political activist, film director, and
painter that for years has gone by the pseudonymous name of Banksy, was
arrested yesterday by police in London.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

PRLog (Press Release) - Feb. 22, 2013
- London, England — The England-based graffiti artist, political
activist, film director, and painter that for years has gone by the
pseudonymous name of Banksy, was arrested yesterday by police in London.
After hours of questioning and a raid of his London art studio, his
true name and identity have finally been revealed.

London Police
say Banksy’s real name is Paul William Horner, a 39-year old male born
in Bristol, England. The BBC has also confirmed this information with
his PR agent Jo Brooks and the website that acts as a handling service
on behalf of the artist, Pest Control.

London Police Chief Wayne
Leppard held a press conference to answer questions about how Banksy was
finally apprehended. “We had a 24-hour Anti-Graffiti Task Force
monitoring different groups known to have associated with Banksy. We
received word that around 2am a group of individuals left a flat
speculated to be one of Banky’s art studios. This group was followed by
agents and once vandalism had occurred, we then arrested the group, 5
men total. These individuals all had ID on them except for one, and that
is the one we believed to be Banksy,” Leppard said. “We then raided the
studio where this group was last seen leaving from. Inside we found
thousands of dollars of counterfeit money along with future projects of
vandalism. We also found a passport and ID of a Paul William Horner who
matched the description of the man that we are currently holding.”
Leppard continued, “Horner is currently being held without bail on
charges of vandalism, conspiracy, racketeering and counterfeiting. We
are also holding the other four individuals whose names we are not
releasing at this time.”

After today’s arrest it is unclear who
else will be sought in connection with Banksy’s arrest. CNN spoke with
Kyle Brock who is a project manager for Banksy says he is now worried
that charges could be brought against him also. “If they spent this many
man-hours and brought this many charges against Banksy, I can’t imagine
that he’ll be the only one to go down in all of this,” Brock said. “All
the beauty Paul Horner brought to this world, and the London Police can
only see it as vandalism. It’s such a shame.”

The graffiti
artist that goes by the name Space Invader told reporters he does not
agree with the arrest or outing of Banksy’s identity. “He’s just doing
art. That’s what he was doing and that’s what he’ll continue to do,”
Invader said. “For the London Police to setup some 24-hour task force
just to catch Banksy is ridiculous. I hope we hear plenty of noise from
the good tax-paying citizens of London about this.”

Banksy’s
identity was long speculated to be Robin Gunningham, a man born in
Bristol, England in 1973. Known for his contempt for the government in
labeling graffiti as vandalism, Banksy displays his art on public walls
and even going as far as to build physical prop pieces. He does not sell
his work directly; however, art auctioneers have been known to attempt
to sell his street art on location and leave the problem of its removal
in the hands of the winning bidder.

London Police are not releasing any pictures of Horner or any further information at this time.

Yeah sure right! A PR stunt for whom? We shall see!

[anarquee]

April fools' came early this year?!

[RolexDave]

Feb 22, 2013 21:51:02 GMT 1 Sundowner said:

Apparently not....www.prlog.org/12085513-banksy-arrested-in-london-identity-revealed.html

Apparently yes.  Dont be a sheep!

[Finsbury]

One press release after a press conference ?! BS

[tartarus]

Im with biggie on this one, more manufactured bollox.

[letiss]

There is no "London Police" (other than the artists) and there is no rank of "Police Chief'. Either a hoax or very shoddy journalism.

[sharpster]

bbc homepage doesnt show any of these "news" either

[Deleted]

Feb 22, 2013 21:58:55 GMT 1 sharpster said:

bbc homepage doesnt show any of these "news" either

Exactly. Hoax.

[craigf]

Jo no longer represents Banksy, this "story" is one big porkie pie

[frezza]

Wayne Leppard? a BBC reference of which there's no sign on the website? And a comment from invader (who is apparently now available to chat to the press......Really?

[chaturz]

So just to confirm.....totally legit story....and now that he's unmasked his art is worth pennies.....sooooooo Im willing to offer a shiny pound coin for any signed prints going! Deal?

[fielder]

Ok - I'm pretty certain now this is a hoax. Livened up the forum though!!

[RolexDave]

Feb 22, 2013 22:00:38 GMT 1 frezza said:

Wayne Leppard? a BBC reference of which there's no sign on the website? And a comment from invader (who is apparently now available to chat to the press......Really?

Ah yes, Wayne Leppard, the brother of the one whose going a bit mutton Jeff!

[DrWhite]

Normally it would be 'A Met Police spokesperson' would it not ? Vandalism is pretty low on the crime radar !HOAX for sure.....

[Finsbury]

Feb 22, 2013 22:00:35 GMT 1 craigf said:

Jo no longer represents Banksy, this "story" is one big porkie pie

Who represents him now Craig?

[BrotherBern]

He was in Bristol today, so clearly not true

[Coach]

Feb 22, 2013 21:56:52 GMT 1 letiss said:

There is no "London Police" (other than the artists) and there is no rank of "Police Chief'. Either a hoax or very shoddy journalism.

On that note, I'm not certain, but I don't think there is a specific crime of racketeering in England. 

I reckon hoax too.

[Coach]

When you've got an MP and councillor complaining about the removal of a Banksy, and councils covering them with perspex to protect them, and if memory serves, apologising when they are accidently painted away, I cant see the police risking the potential backlash of spending loads of money arresting someone who does something so popular. Mind you, I have seen some dumb stuff before!

[raindogs]

Adrian Leppard is the Commissioner of City of London Police. Nepotism in London Police?
www.cityoflondon.police.uk/CityPolice/About/Who/OurPeople/commissioner.htm

[jB]

Looks like the article has been removed.Or may I just can't access it due to being on my mobile

[craigf]

Feb 22, 2013 22:17:18 GMT 1 Finsbury said:

Feb 22, 2013 22:00:35 GMT 1 craigf said:

Jo no longer represents Banksy, this "story" is one big porkie pie

Who represents him now Craig?

Now that I don't know, but I have a friend who is friends with Jo so I know she isn't doing it any more

[Sundowner]

Feb 22, 2013 23:03:56 GMT 1 jB said:

Looks like the article has been removed.Or may I just can't access it due to being on my mobile

Been taken down.

[illu]

and I just wanted to ask silky to change the name into Paul William Horner Forum....;(

[Zippy]

finance.yahoo.com/news/report-graffiti-artist-bankys-arrest-214654648.html

[mace]

This time it's a hoax. I fear that day will come...

[floubi]

Thanks zippy