Two arrests over Rochdale memorial Palestine graffiti

Police said the graffiti on the cenotaph had been "very upsetting" for the community

Two teenagers have been arrested after a war memorial was defaced with "Free Palestine" graffiti.

Tuesday's vandalism to the monument in Rochdale was condemned by Greater Manchester Police and Rochdale Borough Council.

The two males were held on suspicion of causing racially aggravated criminal damage.

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned that war memorials could be "desecrated" on Armistice Day.

Police have been guarding the Rochdale memorial on the Esplanade after the attack.

They said there was a previous concerning incident at the same site on Monday when poppies were taken down.

Det Ch Insp Stuart Round said the memorial means a lot to the community and the recent incidents had been "deeply upsetting, particularly at a time when we should be honouring the memory of war veterans".

He said the force was taking the incidents "very seriously".

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