Fury as pro-Palestinian supporters deface Rochdale warfare memorial

Police are standing guard in Rochdale tonight after the city’s warfare memorial was daubed with ‘Free Palestine‘ graffiti – simply days earlier than Armistice Day.

Locals have expressed their outrage, with many blaming pro-Palestine supporters within the space, with the monument repeatedly focused in current days.

Vandals stripped Remembrance Day poppies from the cenotaph on the Esplanade within the city centre yesterday.

And earlier this week, a person was filmed eradicating Palestinian flags from the monument and propping up wreaths which had been thrown to the bottom.

Police tape has been pictured across the monument this night and Community Support Officers are standing guard, including to already elevated patrols following the spate of incidents.

Police are standing guard in Rochdale tonight after daubed the city’s warfare memorial with ‘Free Palestine’ graffiti

Police tape has been pictured across the monument this night and Community Support Officers are standing guard

A spokesperson for Rochdale Borough Council stated of the incident tonight: ‘On the afternoon of Tuesday 7 November graffiti was sprayed on the Cenotaph. 

‘This is completely unacceptable and can be being investigated by police. The graffiti might be eliminated as quickly as we’re in a position to.

‘As we stated in our preliminary response – we’re pleased with our robust hyperlinks with our armed forces neighborhood. 

‘Our warfare memorials and monuments are extremely necessary and needs to be revered by everybody always.’

Greater Manchester Police have been contacted for remark.