Half a dozen swastikas were sprayed across a children’s playground in Hackney, north London, on Sunday.
The Nazi-era symbols were daubed on rocks in the playground at Clissold Park in Stoke Newington, just a stone’s throw from two local synagogues – Adath Yisroel Synagogue and Kehillah North London, both of which border the park.
Hackney Council removed the graffiti on Sunday evening and in the early hours of Monday morning.
The police are treating the incident as a hate crime.
Hackney mayor, Caroline Woodley, called the vandalism “abhorrent.”
“I won’t share the abhorrent graffiti that defaced this play area but wanted to let concerned residents know that Hackney Council teams were out last night and again this morning to remove it. Everyone should feel safe to play in Hackney,” Woodley wrote on X, along with the hashtag “NoPlaceforHate”.
According to one X user, vandals also poured blue paint over a slide, damaged a trampoline, and graffitied explicit images on a climbing wall.
On Sunday, local social media page, Stokey Updates, wrote on X: “Swastikas were painted on the rocks in the children’s playground in Clissold Park. According to Clissold People, park management is aware, signs have been put up, and the specialist cleaning team has been informed.”
The Metropolitan Police said their enquires were ongoing.
“Police are currently investigating reports of criminal damage to Clissold Park, N16. The incidents were first reported to police on Sunday, April 20.
“This incident has been recorded as a hate crime due to swastika symbols being painted on the park equipment.”
