Damaged synagogue begins clean-up

There has been a sharp increase in anti-Semitic incidents

Work has begun on restoring a synagogue in north London that was vandalised and daubed with a swastika.

The synagogue in Finsbury Park is used by 150 mainly elderly people - many of them Holocaust survivors.

Twenty windows were broken, religious artefacts damaged and excrement left, in what is considered a planned attack.

The targeting of a synagogue of elderly congregants, many of whom are Holocaust survivors, is particularly distressing

Spokesman for the Chief Rabbi

Police have confirmed they are treating the incident as racist.

Community leaders were left horrified when they inspected the damage.

A swastika was painted on the rabbi's lectern, and prayer shawls and skull caps were lying on the ground.

The Israeli flag was stamped on and green paint was thrown at the holy ark, where sacred scrolls are kept.

A spokesman for the Chief Rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks said: "It is the first incident in this country that is comparable to recent incidents in France and other European countries.

"The targeting of a synagogue of elderly congregants, many of whom are Holocaust survivors, is particularly distressing."

The Board of Deputies of British Jews called for an urgent investigation into the desecretion.

The clean-up operation has begun

Fiona Macaulay, the public affairs director, said the attack was evidence of a sevenfold increase in anti-Semitic activity in April alone.

"The daubing of a swastika inside a synagogue is grossly offensive," she said.

"It is intolerable that such wanton violence should go unpunished."

The Board of Deputies says that UK figures for April show there were 48 anti-Semitic incidents compared to 32 for January, February and March.

Anti-Semitic acts and damage to synagogues has been reported in Germany, Belgium, France and Russia.