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| Anti-Semitic graffiti daubed on London shops and cafes | Anti-Semitic graffiti daubed on London shops and cafes |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Anti-Semitic graffiti has been daubed on a synagogue and several shops in north London during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. | Anti-Semitic graffiti has been daubed on a synagogue and several shops in north London during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. |
| The Star of David, a Jewish holy symbol, and "911" were spray-painted in Hampstead and Belsize Park, possibly referencing a conspiracy theory. | |
| South Hampstead Synagogue was among the premises targeted, with reports made to police from 23:30 GMT on Saturday. | South Hampstead Synagogue was among the premises targeted, with reports made to police from 23:30 GMT on Saturday. |
| Police are treating it as a racially motivated hate crime. | Police are treating it as a racially motivated hate crime. |
| The graffiti could reference an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that Jews are responsible for the 9/11 terror attack. | |
| It could also reference Kristallnacht, an organised nationwide attack on Jews which began in Germany on 9 November 1938. | |
| The vandalism was carried out six days after the start of Hanukkah - one of the biggest festivals of the year for Jewish people. No arrests have been made. | The vandalism was carried out six days after the start of Hanukkah - one of the biggest festivals of the year for Jewish people. No arrests have been made. |
| Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said on Twitter: "This makes me sick to my stomach" adding that "anti-Semitism like this" had "no place anywhere and certainly not in London". | Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said on Twitter: "This makes me sick to my stomach" adding that "anti-Semitism like this" had "no place anywhere and certainly not in London". |
| He also said that residents could expect more police patrols in the area. | He also said that residents could expect more police patrols in the area. |
| A South Hampstead Synagogue spokesman said: "This is a time for people of all backgrounds - of all faiths and of none - to stand united and show our determination that we do not tolerate prejudice, hate and division - on our streets or online." | A South Hampstead Synagogue spokesman said: "This is a time for people of all backgrounds - of all faiths and of none - to stand united and show our determination that we do not tolerate prejudice, hate and division - on our streets or online." |
| MP for Hampstead and Kilburn Tulip Siddiq, MP for Holborn and St Pancras Keir Starmer and Camden Council leader Georgia Gould released a joint statement, which read: "Camden is and always will be no place for hate. | MP for Hampstead and Kilburn Tulip Siddiq, MP for Holborn and St Pancras Keir Starmer and Camden Council leader Georgia Gould released a joint statement, which read: "Camden is and always will be no place for hate. |
| "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. | "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. |
| "We are proud to have a strong, vibrant Jewish community as part of our beautiful borough. | "We are proud to have a strong, vibrant Jewish community as part of our beautiful borough. |
| "This is not an isolated incident and we must all confront the rising tide of hate crime and anti-Semitism in the UK. | "This is not an isolated incident and we must all confront the rising tide of hate crime and anti-Semitism in the UK. |
| "Now is the moment to find the courage to confront hatred and prejudice wherever we see it." | "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. | Camden street cleaning teams are removing the graffiti "as quickly and sensitively as possible," they added. |
| Conservative councillor for Hampstead Oliver Cooper said he spent Sunday morning patrolling the neighbourhood after "appalled" residents alerted the Community Security Trust charity, which works to protect the Jewish community. | Conservative councillor for Hampstead Oliver Cooper said he spent Sunday morning patrolling the neighbourhood after "appalled" residents alerted the Community Security Trust charity, which works to protect the Jewish community. |
| Mr Cooper said: "My first reaction was shock and horror. | Mr Cooper said: "My first reaction was shock and horror. |
| "I've had to report anti-Semitic graffiti in Hampstead a number of times before, including by a banned neo-Nazi group, but I have never seen anything approaching this extent." | "I've had to report anti-Semitic graffiti in Hampstead a number of times before, including by a banned neo-Nazi group, but I have never seen anything approaching this extent." |
| Mr Cooper said he came across the graffiti in nine places, and others also posted photographs of the markings on Twitter. | Mr Cooper said he came across the graffiti in nine places, and others also posted photographs of the markings on Twitter. |
| Ms Siddiq described the vandalism as "unbelievable, senseless, disgusting anti-Semitism at the heart of our community". | Ms Siddiq described the vandalism as "unbelievable, senseless, disgusting anti-Semitism at the heart of our community". |
| Insp Kev Hailes, of the Met, said: "This is clearly a concerning incident and one we are taking seriously. | Insp Kev Hailes, of the Met, 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. | "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." | "Officers will be on patrol throughout the area in order to provide some reassurance to local communities." |
| The graffiti was seen being removed from shop windows on Sunday afternoon. | The graffiti was seen being removed from shop windows on Sunday afternoon. |