Police consider menorah vandalism a hate crime

Police say they are treating the Hanukkah menorah vandalism as a hate crime.

The candelabrum, known as Hanukkah, has been in Bricket Wood, Hertfordshire for the past three years.

It consisted of eight branches, which were burned during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

Hertfordshire Police said the menorah on the West Riding was reported to have been damaged between 18:00 GMT on 28 December and 08:30 on 29 December and that blue paint had been thrown or poured over it.

Rabbi Eliezer Tunk, director of Chabad Lubavitch Brick Wood, said he was “shocked and deeply troubled” that “our beloved community menorah was so tragically destroyed”.

He said the menorah would “definitely be replaced” in a more public location, possibly and “they will fight darkness with light”.

Hertfordshire Police said officers were trying to obtain and view CCTV footage from nearby shops.

Extra patrols have also been put in place in the area and residents are encouraged to speak to our officers if they have any concerns.

The incident goes like this Increase in anti-Semitic and Islamophobic hate crimes reported to police.