Car 'deliberately crosses park and damages Jewish memorial' as cops make appeal

27 November 2023 , 19:58

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The damaged tree in Brighton (Image: Andy Gardner / Story Picture Agency)

A memorial tree honouring Jewish refugees is believed to have been deliberately hit by a vehicle in a Brighton park, police have said.

An appeal is being made to the public by Sussex Police for information after the tribute to Jewish refugees who fled Austria at the beginning of the Second World War was damaged over the weekend.

A vehicle is thought to have driven across Preston Park towards the tree and deliberately damaged it and the memorial plaque from the Association of Jewish Refugees. The attack took place overnight between November 4 and November 5, Sussex Police said.

A spokesman said: "Sussex Police is aware that the ongoing conflict in Israel and in Gaza is generating public concern and is impacting communities globally and locally, and we extend our support to those affected in Sussex.

Police believe the tree was hit by a vehicle (Andy Gardner / Story Picture Agency)

Police are appealing to the public for information (Andy Gardner / Story Picture Agency)

"The force has increased visibility across parts of Sussex to provide an increased presence and reassurance to our local communities. We recognise there is the potential for increased tensions and are engaging and working with communities and partners to ensure people feel safe and protected.

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"Anyone who experiences threatening behaviour or is worried about their safety is urged to contact the police. We remain committed to ensuring any reported offences are fully investigated in line with relevant legislation and take all factors into account. Witnesses or anyone with information about this incident, including those with details or footage of vehicles in the area at the time, is asked to report it to Sussex Police online or call 101 and quote serial 714 of 14/11."

A statement also said: "It is believed a vehicle drove across the park towards the tree, which is located at the eastern side on the park, and deliberately caused damage to the tree and the memorial plaque from the Association of Jewish Refugees."

There has been rising tensions over the war between Israel and Hamas with demonstrations held in many cities around the world. A march took place in London on Sunday which organisers said was the largest against anti-Semitism in the capital since the Battle of Cable Street in 1936, when hundreds of thousands of people blocked a planned march by Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists through an area populated by Jewish families.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis told crowds there had been an "alarming" rise in anti-Jewish sentiment since the October 7 attacks by Hamas. But he vowed: "We will not be intimidated."

Tim Hanlon