Antisemitic graffiti condemned by Jeremy Corbyn and Priti Patel
Labour leader sent a message of 'love and solidarity' while the Home secretary described Jew-hate as 'unacceptable scourge on our society'
Antisemitic graffiti found daubed across several shop fronts and a synagogue in north London has been condemned as “disgraceful” and “senseless”.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn sent a message of “love and solidarity” to Jewish communities, while Home Secretary Priti Patel described antisemitism as an “unacceptable scourge on our society”.
The Star of David symbol alongside the numbers “9 11” was spray-painted in red and purple on several premises in the Hampstead and Belsize Park area, including South Hampstead Synagogue, on Saturday night.
The graffiti references an antisemitic conspiracy theory that Jews are responsible for the 9/11 terror attack, and was found less than two hours after five people were stabbed at a rabbi’s home in New York.
Police have said they are investigating the graffiti as a racially motivated hate crime after receiving reports of the vandalism at 11.30pm on Saturday.
The graffiti was seen being removed from shop windows on Sunday afternoon.
- READ MORE here, including communal reaction: Stars of David and ‘9/11’ daubed on shops and a shul in Hampstead, Belsize Park
Mr Corbyn said on Twitter: “How terrible that Chanukah started with a message of hope and on this last day we face antisemitic graffiti in London and horrific stabbings at a party in New York.
“We stand with all our communities facing hate. We send love and solidarity to Jewish communities around the world.”
How terrible that Chanukah started with a message of hope and on this last day we face antisemitic graffiti in London and horrific stabbings at a party in New York. We stand with all our communities facing hate.
We send love and solidarity to Jewish communities around the world.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) December 29, 2019
Ms Patel said: “We must root out this antisemitic hatred.”
She added: “No one should live in fear or tolerate such heinous abuse.”
Tulip Siddiq, the local MP, condemned the vandalism as “unbelievable, senseless, disgusting antisemitism at the heart of our community”.
And Sir Keir Starmer said: “I agree with Tulip. This graffiti is disgusting and we must stand with the Jewish community against antisemitism.”
Camden Council leader Georgia Gould released a joint statement alongside Sir Keir and Ms Siddiq, which said they were “horrified” by the vandalism.
The statement read: “Camden is and always will be no place for hate.
- READ MORE here, including communal reaction: Stars of David and ‘9/11’ daubed on shops and a shul in Hampstead, Belsize Park
“We stand together with all of our Jewish residents and our whole community in saying these cowardly pedlars of hate do not represent Camden and our values…
“This is not an isolated incident and we must all confront the rising tide of hate crime and antisemitism in the UK.
“Now is the moment to find the courage to confront hatred and prejudice wherever we see it.”
Camden street cleaning teams are removing the graffiti “as quickly and sensitively as possible”, they added.
The Metropolitan Police said no arrests have yet been made.
Inspector Kev Hailes said: “This is clearly a concerning incident and one we are taking seriously.
“We have liaised with our partners in order to remove the graffiti and various inquiries are under way to find who is responsible.
“Officers will be on patrol throughout the area in order to provide some reassurance to local communities. Please approach us if you have any questions or concerns.”
Police have asked anyone who saw anything suspicious on Saturday night to call them on 101.
The incident comes after five people were stabbed at a rabbi’s home north of New York on Saturday night.
A knifeman attacked a Chanukah celebration in Monsey, before fleeing in a vehicle at around 10pm, police said.
The attack appeared to be the latest in a string targeting Jews in the region, including a massacre at a kosher grocery store in New Jersey earlier this month.
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