Following the desecration of 85 graves, many of which belonged to infants and small children, in the Muslim portion of Watford’s Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery, the UK Police on Tuesday began an investigation into what is being considered an Islamophobic hate crime.
The local Muslim community has been deeply shocked and distressed by the criminal damage, which was noticed by a distraught family on a visit to the location, according to Hertfordshire Police.
Police are urging witnesses or anybody with information to come forward as they increase patrols in the area.
Senior officers are collaborating with community leaders to assist impacted families, according to Inspector Will Rogers-Overy.
“We will be interacting with the Muslim community more in the days ahead, as they will have been especially affected by this terrible crime,” he stated.
Serving a large number of Muslim families in the area, Wadi Funeralcare called the vandalism “heartbreaking” and said that some of the graves had been the target of “unspeakable acts of disrespect.”
Brent Council owns and runs Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery, which is situated in Watford.
Muhammed Butt, the council head, denounced the incident as possibly being an act of Islamophobic bigotry.
“What appears to be an Islamophobic hate crime appears to have targeted Muslim graves,” Butt said.
“The families of those whose graves were desecrated are in our prayers. As soon as the police inquiry is finished, we will replace the broken name plaques and turn the cemetery back into a peaceful and memorial space.
The damage has caused “immense anguish to grieving families and profound hurt across our community,” according to Abbas Merali, a Conservative councillor from Three Rivers District Council, who described it as “a barbaric act.”
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