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London synagogue and shops daubed in anti-Semitic graffiti on Hanukkah

The Jewish holy symbol alongside the numbers “9 11” was spray-painted in red and purple on several premises.

graffiti PA Images PA Images

A SYNAGOGUE AND several shops in north London have been daubed with anti-Semitic graffiti during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.

The Jewish holy symbol alongside the numbers “9 11” was spray-painted in red and purple on several premises in the Hampstead and Belsize Park area, including South Hampstead Synagogue.

The graffiti references an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that Jews are responsible for the 9/11 terror attack.

Police have said they are investigating the racially motivated hate crime after receiving reports of the vandalism at 11.30pm yesterday. 

Conservative councillor for Hampstead Oliver Cooper said he spent this morning patrolling the neighbourhood after “appalled” residents alerted the Community Security Trust (CST) charity, which works to protect the Jewish community.

Tweet by @Oliver Cooper Oliver Cooper / Twitter Oliver Cooper / Twitter / Twitter

Cooper told the PA news agency: “My first reaction was shock and horror.

“I’ve had to report anti-Semitic graffiti in Hampstead a number of times before, including by a banned neo-Nazi group, but I have never seen anything approaching this extent.”

He added: “I was alerted to these incidents by a number of neighbours, who had reported it to the Community Security Trust.

“I spent this morning walking around Hampstead to find all the locations so that they could be removed as quickly as possible, and to reassure residents that were naturally appalled by it that the police and CST were already aware and taking it as seriously as it deserved to be.”

Cooper said he came across the graffiti in nine places, and others also posted photographs of the markings on Twitter.

Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn Tulip Siddiq condemned the vandalism as “unbelievable, senseless, disgusting anti-Semitism at the heart of our community”.

She added: “I am in touch with Camden Council and Borough Commander (Raj) Kohli regarding clean-up and attempting to find these criminals – we must all stay vigilant in order to continue the fight against this hatred.”

The Metropolitan Police said no arrests have yet been made.

Inspector Kev Hailes said: “This is clearly a concerning incident and one we are taking seriously.

“We have liaised with our partners in order to remove the graffiti and various inquiries are under way to find who is responsible.

“Officers will be on patrol throughout the area in order to provide some reassurance to local communities. Please approach us if you have any questions or concerns.”

Police have asked anyone who saw anything suspicious last night to call them on 101.

The incident comes after five people were stabbed at a rabbi’s home north of New York last night.

A knifeman attacked a Hanukkah celebration in Monsey, before fleeing in a vehicle at around 10pm, police said.

The attack appeared to be the latest in a string targeting Jews in the region, including a massacre at a kosher grocery store in New Jersey earlier this month.

Responding to the graffiti in London, the Board of Deputies of British Jews wrote on Twitter: “This is a reminder that antisemitism is still with us. Thanks @CST_UK for reporting to @MPSCamden. We hope action is taken to find & punish the perpetrators. Let’s all work to defeat antisemitism in 2020!”

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    Mute Eoghan Augusta
    Favourite Eoghan Augusta
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    Nov 27th 2023, 8:35 PM

    Sweet pension.. no actually change.. gravy train

    333
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    Mute Lilian Daly
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    Nov 28th 2023, 7:31 AM

    @Eoghan Augusta: Why don’t t you try it yourself- if you’ re that jealous!

    33
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    Mute Tom Newell
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    Nov 28th 2023, 8:08 AM

    @Lilian Daly: Jealous isnt the word id use, funny how all the usual political apologists and cheerleaders come on here baying for blood when its a socal welfare story calling people sponges for doing nothing and getting well paid, yet we have TD’s that people barely know exist except come election time can retire after years of being paid and bringing no real value and get a pension……but hey ho!

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    Mute Mel Fitzpatrick
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    Nov 27th 2023, 8:30 PM

    Rats off a sinking ship

    375
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    Mute Sean O'Dhubhghaill
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    Nov 27th 2023, 9:21 PM

    @Mel Fitzpatrick: He is 75 I think! Is he not allowed retire?

    172
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    Mute uUleRhCu
    Favourite uUleRhCu
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    Nov 27th 2023, 10:19 PM

    @Sean O’Dhubhghaill: Typical shinner comment…..wait till we see what happens them if they get in and they can’t be all things to all people all the time AND They are expected to do their job for 35k.it will be carnage.

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    Mute Peter B (V Eight)
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    Nov 27th 2023, 10:54 PM

    @Sean O’Dhubhghaill: absolutely not, not until he achieved world peace.!

    14
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    Mute Mise Freisin
    Favourite Mise Freisin
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    Nov 27th 2023, 11:51 PM

    @Mel Fitzpatrick: You’re a bozo who probably only ever hurled on the ditch

    13
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    Mute Lilian Daly
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    Nov 28th 2023, 7:32 AM

    @Mel Fitzpatrick: Over 70s are allowed to retire!!!!!!

    17
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    Mute Tom Newell
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    Nov 28th 2023, 8:11 AM

    @uUleRhCu: I heard the shinners will take your first born and throw them off a cliff too and then they will work with the lizard overlords and turn us into slaves…..The FFG mob are turning into the average looney toon murica voter with their sad proficies of doom about the evil shinners

    20
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    Mute Mel Fitzpatrick
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    Nov 28th 2023, 8:55 AM

    @Sean O’Dhubhghaill: Apologies, I take it back. Though he was doing a Tory job on it….lol

    3
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    Mute Liam Foy
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    Nov 28th 2023, 9:47 AM

    @uUleRhCu: funny that in the real world Fine Gael have created a chaotic housing crisis by bringing in non resident or citizens allowing them to bulk buy properties they are called vulture funds. Fine Gael reduced the police force and closed over 110 police station look at law and order now. Could any new party do worse.

    22
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    Mute F Fitzgerald
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    Nov 28th 2023, 1:14 PM

    @Liam Foy: Out of curiosity, were those police stations not rat- infested old buildings? This is going back a bit, but I remember people complaining about the state of them. I thought at the time the 8dea was to sell them off & build better ones. Did that never happen?

    1
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    Mute Eddie Garvey
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    Nov 27th 2023, 9:07 PM

    Teacher, loads of free time so went into politics with all his free time, got elected several times on the basis that older fg voter’s would vote for a donkey if it was the fg candidate, achieved very little as many ex teachers in politics tend to and now retires with huge pension income. Only positive is he didn’t retire at earliest opportunity so I suppose some credit for that

    232
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    Mute CURRAGH CRITIC
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    Nov 27th 2023, 9:25 PM

    @Eddie Garvey: You seem to have a bit of a problem with teachers.

    74
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    Mute Richard Ford
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    Nov 27th 2023, 10:40 PM

    @Jimmy Wallace: . Yea right. An 18 year old student says, I’ll become a teacher because it’ll help me get elected to the Dáil. Catch yourself on.

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    Mute Richard Ford
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    Nov 27th 2023, 10:57 PM

    @Jimmy Wallace: Ah here. You need to go to bed and get a good night’s sleep. Your head is fried.

    23
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    Mute Mise Freisin
    Favourite Mise Freisin
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    Nov 27th 2023, 11:55 PM

    @Eddie Garvey: Ah if you were bright enuff you could’ve been a teacher. Infinitely better than begrudgery

    23
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    Mute Brian Hunt
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    Nov 28th 2023, 1:06 AM

    @CURRAGH CRITIC: One only has to look at Mehole Martin to see why!

    36
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    Mute Mise Freisin
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    Nov 28th 2023, 4:00 AM

    @Brian Hunt: If you’d an education you’d know how to spell, and perhaps be respectful. No name calling Brian. Great rhyming surname though. Is it Tuesday already?

    13
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    Mute Lilian Daly
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    Nov 28th 2023, 7:34 AM

    @Eddie Garvey: I was a teacher for 38 years- what’s ” free time?”

    9
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    Mute Tommy Haze
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    Nov 27th 2023, 9:35 PM

    A waffler of the highest order.

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    Mute Sheila McNulty
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    Nov 27th 2023, 10:33 PM

    @Tommy Haze: think thats U Tommy

    33
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    Mute Liam Byrne
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    Nov 27th 2023, 9:15 PM

    He’s been on Government payments for a long time, and will continue.

    126
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    Mute David Cotter
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    Nov 27th 2023, 9:16 PM

    God what an uninspiring career……

    137
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    Mute David Cotter
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    Nov 27th 2023, 9:18 PM

    He even managed to create another quango…..Jesus wept

    128
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    Mute Paddy C
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    Nov 27th 2023, 10:03 PM

    Another handout and little or nothing achieved for it never changes

    92
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    Mute Michael o connor
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    Nov 27th 2023, 10:30 PM

    A career suckling on the t1t of the taxpayer, and nothing to show for it. The FG way

    115
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    Mute Mise Freisin
    Favourite Mise Freisin
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    Nov 27th 2023, 11:57 PM

    @Michael o connor: No bl ood on his hands like some of his prospective replacements. Such a shame to be honourable and decent

    33
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    Mute John Connolly
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    Nov 27th 2023, 9:20 PM

    The father of the Residential Tenancy Act

    54
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    Mute Ian McDonald
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    Nov 27th 2023, 11:48 PM

    I wonder how many of the critics here will put themselves forward at the next election, or will they just live their lives here in The Journal, moaning about those who do

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    Mute Kilkenny Proud
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    Nov 27th 2023, 9:05 PM

    He’s 75!

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    Mute uUleRhCu
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    Nov 27th 2023, 10:21 PM

    @Kilkenny Proud: Doesn’t matter to the sf mob.

    34
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    Mute Martin Mongan
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    Nov 28th 2023, 7:58 AM

    @uUleRhCu: only you would turn a comment into about someone’s age into “wait till SF”. Seriously did your wife leave you for a SF member or something hahahahaha

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    Mute Tom Newell
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    Nov 28th 2023, 8:13 AM

    @uUleRhCu: I think we have a serious closet shinner and mary lou lover here folks he secretly has loads of shinner posters in his basement

    6
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    Mute John Mcmahon
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    Nov 27th 2023, 11:57 PM

    So how many pensions does he get just one for being a TD. Or 2 for being a Senator or 3 for being a Councillor as well?

    42
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    Mute Mise Freisin
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    Nov 28th 2023, 4:10 AM

    @John Mcmahon: Only what he’s entitled to, or legally allowed to collect. Your jealousy is sadly showing through. Do you have to sign on some day this week?

    14
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    Mute GEORGE STAGG
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    Nov 28th 2023, 9:48 AM

    @Mise Freisin: Only gets what FFG TDs voted to give themselves

    18
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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    Nov 27th 2023, 9:57 PM

    Another old brigade retiree. Who will replace him?

    35
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    Mute Michael o connor
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    Nov 27th 2023, 11:29 PM

    @Padraig O’Brien: an empty chair?

    36
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    Mute Chris Gaffney
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    Nov 28th 2023, 5:24 AM

    @Padraig O’Brien: Maybe a new sf foot soldier who will do great public service for us all and only draw the average industrial wage while fixing all our problems!!

    5
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    Mute John Gaughan
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    Nov 27th 2023, 9:47 PM

    Best wishes Fergus on your retirement you done your time as a elected man by the people
    Fine geal suporter
    Looking forward to the replays

    28
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    Mute Donna Fallon
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    Nov 28th 2023, 7:02 AM

    As an ex FG voter I have to say that he was one of the good ones… wishing Fergus happiness in his retirement x

    16
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    Mute Jane Waters
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    Nov 28th 2023, 10:59 AM

    Always liked Fergus O’Dowd. He always fought for his constituency.

    11
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    Mute Cian O Donnell
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    Nov 27th 2023, 11:01 PM

    Not make more sense to stand down before the next General Election?

    10
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    Mute Tom Dillon
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    Nov 28th 2023, 6:35 AM

    @Cian O Donnell: No. he wishes to serve out his term and why shouldn’t or wouldn’t he?

    13
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    Mute F Fitzgerald
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    Nov 28th 2023, 1:18 PM

    @Cian O Donnell: Yes. Surely that would be more democratic?

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    Mute Paul Gorry
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    Nov 28th 2023, 1:05 PM

    Fine Gael are awesome, definitely voting for them again

    5
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    Mute carol mullen
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    Nov 28th 2023, 6:34 PM

    Fergal will never be forgotten……. sorry Fergus.

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    Mute sleepy joe
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    Nov 28th 2023, 1:29 PM

    Best news I’ve heard all day,if we could just get rid of the rest of them things would be grand with Mary looking after us

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