Police are investigating the “appalling act” of a Nazi swastika symbol being spray painted on the boundary wall outside a Sikh gurdwara in Gravesend.
The swastika was spray-painted on the boundary wall of the Siri Guru Nanak Darbar, near to the gate of the building in Khalsa Avenue. It has since been removed by volunteers who had to paint over it.
Sukh Singh tweeted, "This is depressing. I thought we were way past this. Gravesend has a diverse and generally cohesive community, and people from all races and religions attend our magnificent guru ghar; this person was taught to hate, and is in the minority; a minority given a voice; let’s drown this hate out."
Jagdev Singh Virdee is the general secretary at the gurdwara. According to him the graffiti was painted near the gate, “in an area not yet covered by CCTV”.
In a statement to Kent Live, he said, "Ironically we are due to extend our CCTV cover there this coming week. It is shocking, and also a surprise since we have very good relations with the community. It is the first time that something like this has happened in the 11 years since we moved here."
DI Shaun Creed said, "We are currently investigating this act of racially motivated graffiti and would ask for anyone who may have information to come forward.Incidents of this nature are offensive and will not be tolerated and we will work with those effected to offer support and reassurance."
