Antisemitic graffiti investigated as hate crime

Police are investigating the graffiti as a hate crime

Antisemitic graffiti daubed on the fences surrounding the site of BBC Radio 2's Party in the Park is being treated as a hate crime, police have said.

Lancashire Police has launched an investigation after a series of images were scrawled on the hoardings erected around Moor Park ahead of this weekend's music festival.

They included a thinly-disguised swastika and a sketch of Adolf Hitler committing a lewd act.

Savannah Dable, who spotted the graffiti, said it was particularly chilling to see the offensive drawings at the place where an outdoor concert is to be staged, given the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October last year targeted an event.

'Thump in the chest'

BBC Radio 2 in the Park takes place in Moor Park from Friday to Sunday and will feature headliners The Pet Shop Boys and Sting.

Ms Dale said: "This sort of graffiti and hatred towards Jews is there in society now – it's been normalised.

"Whoever has done it – whether it's a youth or an adult – it's in their mind.

"When I saw those things on the fence of a music festival in Preston, it made the connection with the Nova Festival [the site of the 7 October attack] – and that's what really struck me."

She added it was like getting a "thump in the chest" when she saw the graffiti.

Preston City Council was made aware of the imagery and arranged for it to be removed.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: "We received a report of racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage after antisemitic graffiti was found on metal fencing at Moor Park, Preston.

"Officers are investigating and it is being treated as a hate crime."