Police are investigating after graffiti resembling a swastika was found daubed in red paint over a wall in a hall of residence at the University of Leeds. 
 
The symbol together with letters appearing to spell the word ‘Nazi’ were discovered inside the university’s Charles Morris Hall building at the weekend. 
 
Both daubings were removed, as was “puerile graffiti of penises” reported elsewhere in the residence hall, a university spokesperson said in a statement. 
 
A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “This is being treated as a hate crime and will be investigated accordingly. 
 
“Officers are working with the university to identify suspects and anyone with information can contact police on 101, or by using the options on the West Yorkshire Police website. The crime reference is 13200552418.”
 
The university, which is also investigating the matter and has reviewed CCTV footage, said it suspects the incident was a “one-off indiscriminate act of vandalism by intruders.”
 
It said it was “unaware of any direct threats made to anyone living in the halls of residence”. 
 
Leeds also said it had stepped up security patrols “in and around the halls to help reassure students and staff.
 
“We take incidents of this nature extremely seriously and the safety and welfare of our students and staff is our number one priority.”
 
The Community Security Trust appealed to anyone with information to come forward and said it would continue to support Jewish students at Leeds. 
 
“This was a distressing incident and shows the importance of university authorities dealing quickly and firmly with any examples of antisemitism on campus,” the charity said.