Parts of the exterior of the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam were attacked with red paint on Saturday night and two people have been arrested, local broadcaster AT5 has reported.

The two were detained by security guards and handed over to police, AT5 said.

Most of the paint was thrown through the passageway under the Rijksmuseum which was then closed for a time for the clean-up operation. Several windows in the Van Gogh Museum were also daubed with paint.

The attacks on the buildings came during Museum Night, when the city’s museums remain open until 2 am for special events and performances.

As yet police have said nothing about the motive for the attacks. However, a group calling itself Workers for Palestine claimed on social media that they were responsible for the attacks.

“We took action against the museums lack of acknowledgement of the genocide in Gaza and and in support of a ceasefire now,” the statement said.

The statement also called for the release of those who had been arrested and said the paint itself was water-based acrylic paint which had been diluted.

“We condemn the silencing and violence inflicted on those arrested. This is a violation of freedom of speech and expression,” the statement said.