The artist Banksy has stated that he is responsible for the creation and installation of a new sculpture in central London.
The satirical work shows a man stepping down from a plinth with his face concealed by a flowing flag.
The sculpture is situated in Waterloo Place, just off The Mall, and includes the artist's signature.
It has been installed on a traffic island on Pall Mall, a location the artist said had "a bit of a gap".
The work is positioned near existing monuments, including statues of Edward VII and Florence Nightingale, as well as the Crimean War Memorial.
The surrounding area largely features memorials associated with British imperial and military history of the 19th century.
Banksy, whose identity has not been officially confirmed, has built an international reputation over the past three decades through a body of work spanning street murals, installations and interventions, often featuring politically themed imagery and appearing without prior notice in cities around the world.
The new sculpture is believed to have been installed by a team of workers without permission in the early hours of Wednesday, April 29th and was publicly claimed by the artist the next day via a statement issued to the BBC.
Westminster City Council, which is responsible for the site, said it had taken initial steps to protect the sculpture and that it would remain accessible to the public.
