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Police treat vandalism of menorah as hate crime

Eliezer Tunk A metal candelabrum with eight branches and one central one set against a darkening sky with a tree in the background. Five of the candles on the branches are lit along with the central candle.Eliezer Tunk
A replacement menorah was used for a ceremony on Sunday

Police say they are treating vandalism to a Hannukah menorah as a hate crime.

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

It featured eight branches, lit during the Jewish holiday of Hannukah.

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

Eliezer Tunk The original wooden menorah which has light bulbs attached was damaged and also had blue paint thrown over it.Eliezer Tunk
Rabbi Eliezer Tunk said the menorah at the corner of Oakwood Road and West Riding would be replaced and put in a more public location "to spread the miracle of Hannukah"

Rabbi Eliezer Tunk, director of Chabad Lubavitch Bricket Wood, said he was "shocked and deeply upset" that "our cherished community menorah had been terribly vandalized".

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

Hertfordshire Police said officers had been working to try to obtain and view CCTV footage from nearby shops.

Extra patrols have also been conducted in the area, and residents encouraged to speak to our officers if they had any concerns.

The incident follows a rise in anti-Semitic and Islamophobic hate crimes reported to police.

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