Anti-Semitic graffiti including stars of David and ‘9/11’ is scrawled across shops and cafes in London’s Hampstead and Belsize Park
- Stars of David and ‘9/11’ drawn on shops around Hampstead and Belsize Park
- It is understood the numbers refer to a conspiracy theory over 2001 attacks
- The Metropolitan Police said it is ‘investigating a racially motivated hate crime’
Anti-Semitic graffiti has been scrawled across shops and a telephone box in north London overnight.
Stars of David and ‘9/11’ were plastered over cafes and stores in Hampstead and Belsize Park.
It is understood the numbers are in reference to a conspiracy theory that tries to link Jews to the September 11 attacks in New York in 2001.
Stars of David and ‘9/11’ were plastered over cafes and stores in Hampstead and Belsize Park
It is understood the numbers are in reference to a conspiracy theory that tries to link Jews to the September 11 attacks in New York in 2001
James Sorene from British Israel Communications and Research tweeted a picture of some of the graffiti on the old Hampstead Cafe this morning.
He wrote: ‘This is horrifying, graffiti on a former Israeli style restaurant in Hampstead this morning.
‘Just to add to this: the 9/11 refers to an antisemitic conspiracy theory that Jewish people were somehow responsible for the twin towers attacks in New York.’
The Board of Deputies replied to James Sorene’s tweet, posting: ‘This is a reminder that antisemitism is still with us’
The Community Security Trust, which ‘ensures the safety and security of the Jewish community in the UK’, according to its website, later added another photograph of the graffiti on an Oddbins store.
It wrote it ‘is aware of several examples of antisemitic graffiti in Belsize Park/Hampstead last night.’
The Board of Deputies replied to James Sorene’s tweet, posting: ‘This is a reminder that antisemitism is still with us.
‘Thanks @CST_UK for reporting to @MPSCamden. We hope action is taken to find & punish the perpetrators. Let’s all work to defeat antisemitism in 2020!’
The Metropolitan Police said it is ‘investigating a racially motivated hate crime in the Hampstead area’
The Metropolitan Police said it is ‘investigating a racially motivated hate crime in the Hampstead area’.
It said officers received a report of anti-Semitic graffiti in a number of locations including Belsize Park and shop fronts at around 11pm.
No arrests have 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 enquiries are underway to find who is responsible.
‘Officers will be on patrol throughout the area in order to provide some reassurance to local communities.’