Police in Buenos Aires province have long had a reputation for being corrupt and violent, and these new allegations will damage their standing even further. The provincial governor Eduardo Duhalde, described the attacks on Jewish cemeteries as an act of provocation, designed to undermine his attempts to overhaul the police force and the man in charge of doing that job of reform, Luis Lugones said it was highly likely that the vandals were disgruntled former officers, but they would not succeed in deflecting him from his purpose.

Since he was appointed last year, Mr Lugones has dismissed more than 200 policemen suspected of involvement in violence and racketeering. However there is also a more specific suspicion that officiers in Buenos Aires harbour anti-Semitic sentiments.

Four policemen are already in prison accused of involvement in the bombing of a Jewish community centre in 1994, which left 86 people dead. Jewish groups say the government hasn't done enough to root out anti-Semitism in Argentina.