Vandals smashed windows and daubed red paint across the façade of HSBC’s multi-million flagship city centre office block.
The building, on Wellington Street, had multiple windows smashed, and was sprayed with paint and pro-Palestine graffiti.
South Yorkshire Police say they are investigating after they received reports of criminal damage at the building at 2:13am on Monday 2 March.
No arrests have been made as of 4 March.
A spokesperson for HSBC said: “Criminal acts against our offices and branches threaten the safety of our colleagues, customers, and our ability to serve the community.
“Safety is our priority, and we are actively assisting law enforcement to ensure accountability for these attacks.”
South Yorkshire Police said a group of people wearing face coverings vandalised the building by spraying it with paint and smashing windows before leaving on foot in the direction of Pound’s Park.
No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.
The extent of the damage done to the HSBC Office
On one wall, the words “DROP ELBIT” were scrawled, referencing Elbit Systems, an Israeli arms manufacturer whom activists condemn as enabling Israel’s military action in the Gaza Strip.
These actions were determined as genocide by a United Nations commission, which Israel strongly denies.
The company was asked to comment on the political slogans, but declined to do so.
The building, which sits in the Heart of the City area recently regenerated by the council, employs hundreds of staff and is one of HSBC’s largest offices outside London.
Graham Chidlaw, Manager at The Cream Store, a clothes shop opposite the HSBC building said: “I wouldn’t feel particularly safe working there, obviously there is a big difference between attacking the building and attacking the people.
“It’s usually really quiet around here, we don’t have a big problem with anti-social behaviour at all.”
He added that while people had the right to protest, vandalism caused disruption for businesses and residents.
Mr Chidlaw said workers at the building were turned away when they arrived for work.
By later in the morning, many of the building’s damaged windows had been boarded up, and cleaning crews were seen removing graffiti and paint from the exterior. Portions of the street were cordoned off as repair work took place.
These types of offences have become widespread in recent years, including another instance of vandalism at an HSBC branch in Norwich earlier this year.
Enquiries into the incident are ongoing and police have asked anybody with information regarding the vandalism to contact them on 101.