A man has been arrested after swastikas were sprayed on walls near Belsize Square Synagogue in north London last Saturday night.

The man, aged in his early 40s, was detained on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage.

He was sectioned under the Mental Health Act after his arrest on Wednesday.

Police were alerted to reports of a male painting the Nazi symbol on walls close to Belsize Square Synagogue at 7.40pm last Saturday.

Officers launched a search and tracked down a 17-year-old, whom they arrested on suspicion of religiously aggravated criminal damage. He was taken into custody but later released without charge.

Other swastikas were reportedly sprayed on walls elsewhere in the area.

Researcher Luke Turner wrote on Twitter: “Came home last night to find my north London Jewish neighbourhood a crime scene, with swastikas daubed on every road round the synagogue. Was in two minds about posting, but it’s important to document the horror & trauma these symbols inflict on a whole community.”