Vandals have been described as “cowards” after desecrating a Manchester Jewish cemetery – as police say they are treating it as a hate crime.
Greater Manchester Police said the Philips Park Jewish Cemetery in Whitefield, North Manchester, was vandalised “sometime between midday on Friday… and early morning on Saturday”.
Three separate chapels on the grounds had been damaged, two windows were smashed, “along with a number of sinks”, and CCTV was also stolen.
Shmuli Brown, a Liverpool-based Chabad rabbi, tweeted images on Sunday showing a grave [Ohel] smashed open.
It is believed to be the tombstone of a prominent Manchester rabbi.
Rabbi Brown said: “Today, the Jewish cemetery in Whitefield, Manchester was vandalised and graves were smashed. These cowards picking on the dead trashed the place.”
Sinks and piping were reportedly also stolen, the minister said.
Today, the Jewish cemetery in Whitefield, Manchester was vandalised and graves were smashed. These cowards picking on the dead trashed the place. This is a horrible act of antisemitsm. pic.twitter.com/144tAIQIHZ
— Shmuli Brown (@UniRabbi) February 9, 2019
Those who desecrated Whitefield Cemetery need to be caught as quickly as possible.
— David S Delew (@CSTChiefExec) 10 February 2019
This has caused outrage in the Manchester Jewish community as well as amongst all decent people. Thank you @MabsHussainMBE and @GMPWhitefield for your prompt action and support. https://t.co/6JVdpFEom7
An appeal has been launched on crowdfunding website GoFundMe, raising more than £6,000 of the estimated £30,000 it will cost to repair the damage, as of Sunday afternoon.
Assistant Chief Constable Mabs Hussain said: “This is an abhorrent act of hate which took place in the Jewish cemetery in Whitefield, Bury yesterday.
“Officers are supporting the local community with the CST & all efforts will be made to arrest those responsible.”
Greater Manchester Police said they have opened a hate crime investigation, and enquiries are ongoing.
Superintendent Paul Walker, of GMP’s Bury division, said: “We have launched an investigation and whilst the CCTV has been destroyed by the offenders, clearly in an attempt to cover their tracks, I can assure you that we have a team of dedicated officers working to piece together exactly what happened in an attempt to find those responsible.
“I understand that this incident will have caused distress to many members of our community and we are working alongside our partners including Community Security Trust to ensure that those affected are fully supported.
“We are treating this incident as a hate crime and I want to send a clear message that incidents of this nature will never be tolerated in our communities. I would encourage anyone with any information to get in touch as soon as possible.”
Anyone with information have been urged to contact the police on 0161 856 8172 quoting incident number 2282 of 09/02/2019.
Alternatively, information can be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
