Vandalism at Hove Jewish memorial treated as hate crime
Video of the incident has widely been shared on social media
Police investigating the vandalism of a Jewish memorial in Hove are treating the incident as a hate crime.
Sussex Police confirmed it was looking into a video shared across social media which appears to show a man damaging the site in Palmeira Square on Friday (October 4th), which was set up in the wake of the 0ctober 7th attacks by Hamas.
The footage depicts the man tearing down a number of items including tributes, teddy bears and flowers.
The perpetrator is then confronted by another man who moves him away from the memorial.
Detective Superintendent Ben Newman from Sussex Police said,
"Following a report to police on October 4, we were saddened to learn of this act of vandalism against a memorial that holds great significance for many people.
"We understand the distress this may cause, and we are treating this incident as a hate crime.
"An investigation is underway, and if you have information to help us identify the person responsible, we ask you to contact police."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Sussex Police online or by calling 101 quoting reference 158 of 04/10.
A number of commemorative events took place on Sunday and more are planned for Monday, including one in Palmeira Square.
Elsewhere, the Metropolitan Police confirmed it had made 17 arrests during a pro-Palestine march in central London on Saturday.
Two people were arrested on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation, with one man held after allegedly shouting support for Hezbollah near a pro-Israel counter-demonstration, according to the force.
Another man was arrested on suspicion of wearing or displaying an article indicating support for Hamas, which is also a proscribed organisation, after he was allegedly spotted wearing a parachute, the Met said.
There were eight arrests on suspicion of public order offences, four of which were allegedly racially aggravated.
Three people were arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, another three were arrested on suspicion of common assault and one person was arrested on suspicion of breaching a Public Order Act condition.
Science and Technology Secretary and Hove MP Peter Kyle said the police had the Government's "full support" should they take action against people carrying signs suggesting support for Hezbollah.
Speaking to the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme, he said:
"Yesterday in the protests there was a lot of peaceful protest but there were people who were carrying signs as the one that you have just described.
"That is a criminal act, supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation such as Hezbollah is a criminal act."
He added:
"The Home Secretary, the Prime Minister said very clearly yesterday that the police have our full support should they take action against people carrying signs like that."