Police have launched a hate crime investigation after antisemitic messages appeared to have been raked into bunkers at a golf club just before the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur.

Photographs shared on social media showed swastikas and offensive messages daubed in the bunkers at Hendon Golf Club in north London.

The Met Police said staff reported the messages and damage to other property on Friday. The incident coincided with Yom Kippur – a sacred day in the Jewish calendar which this year started on Friday and ended on Saturday.

Police said the incident is now being “investigated as a racially aggravated hate crime”.

Detective Chief Inspector Daniel Branch, of the North West Command Unit which covers Barnet, said: “We are aware of the shock and distress that this incident has caused, especially coming at a time when the Jewish community is celebrating Yom Kippur.

“The incident is being investigated as a racially aggravated hate crime and work is ongoing, led by officers from the North West community safety unit, to identify and arrest whoever is responsible for this.

“Following the incident we have attended the golf course to support the club and have spoken to community leaders to ensure they are updated on the progress of this investigation.

“Local residents will also continue to see a visible police presence in and around key areas across our boroughs.”

‘Utterly disgraceful’

The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that works to protect British Jews from antisemitism, said it was aware of the “appalling antisemitic slogans and symbols”.

In a statement, it said said: “For this to occur in the heart of the Jewish community shortly before the onset of Yom Kippur is utterly disgraceful.

“We are in regular contact with the police and have urged them to thoroughly investigate this hate crime, and we ask anyone with any information about it to contact CST and the police.”

Hendon MP David Pinto-Duschinsky said the graffiti was “utterly appalling”, writing on X: “It’s completely unacceptable. I want the people who did this caught and punished.”

What is Yom Kippur?

Yom Kippur is considered the most sacred and important day in the Jewish calendar.

It falls in the month of Tishrei (September or October) and marks the culmination of the 10 Days of Awe which follow Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.

Yom Kippur means Day of Atonement and its focus is on reflecting on the past year and asking for God’s forgiveness. It is observed with a 25-hour fast and a special religious service.

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