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Police launch hate crime investigation after swastikas were “raked into bunkers” at London golf club

Police launch hate crime investigation after swastikas were “raked into bunkers” at London golf club

Police have launched a hate crime investigation after anti-Semitic messages were apparently raked into bunkers at a golf club just before the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.

Photos shared on social media showed swastikas and offensive messages displayed in the bunkers at Hendon Golf Club in north London.

The Met Police said staff reported the news and damage to other property on Friday. The incident coincided with Yom Kippur – a holy day in the Jewish calendar that began on Friday and ended on Saturday this year.

Police said the incident was now being “investigated as a racially motivated hate crime.”

Detective Chief Inspector Daniel Branch, from the North West Command Unit, which covers Barnet, said: “We recognize the shock and sadness this incident has caused, particularly at a time when the Jewish community is celebrating Yom Kippur.”

“The incident is being investigated as a racially motivated hate crime and work is currently underway, led by officers from the North West Community Safety Unit, to identify and arrest the person responsible.”

“Following the incident we visited the golf course to support the club and spoke to community leaders to ensure they were updated on the progress of this investigation.

“Residents will continue to experience a visible police presence in and around key areas of our districts.”

The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity working to protect British Jews from anti-Semitism, said it was aware of the “appalling anti-Semitic slogans and symbols”.

It said in a statement: “That this is happening in the heart of the Jewish community just before the start of Yom Kippur is extremely shameful.”

“We are in regular contact with the police and have called on them to thoroughly investigate this hate crime. We would ask anyone with information about this to contact CST and police.”

Hendon MP David Pinto-Duschinsky said the graffiti was “completely appalling” and wrote on X: “It is completely unacceptable. “I want the people who did this to be caught and punished.”

Yom Kippur is considered the holiest and most important day in the Jewish calendar.

It falls in the month of Tishrei (September or October) and marks the culmination of the 10 Days of Awe that follow Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

Yom Kippur means “Day of Atonement” and its focus is on reflecting on the past year and asking for God’s forgiveness. It is celebrated with a 25-hour fast and a special church service.

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