'We do not tolerate hate of any form, and we will do everything in our power to identify the offenders and take the appropriate action.'
Muslim gravestones in a Burnley cemetery have been desecrated with what appears to be white paint.
The footage was taken in the Muslim section of Burnley Cemetery today with both Burnley’s council leader and police issuing a joint statement over the crime.
A spokesperson for Lancashire Constabulary said an investigation has been launched after police were called around 4.15pm today.
They added: ‘The investigation into this matter is very much ongoing. We are taking this matter incredibly seriously and this is being treated as a hate crime.
‘We do not tolerate hate of any form, and we will do everything in our power to identify the offenders and take the appropriate action.’
Leader of Burnley Council, Councillor Afrasiab Anwar MBE said: ‘What type of evil individual(s) would undertake such outrageous actions, in a sacrosanct place of reflection, where loved ones are buried, solely intended to provoke racial tensions?
‘We are working with the police to identify the perpetrator(s) and to ensure they are reprimanded at the earliest opportunity. There is CCTV footage at the cemetery which the police are working through, and we are working with the police to ensure a heightened police presence in the area.’
Arrangements to have the graves cleaned by a specialist memorial mason have been made, as the families affected are contacted.
The hate crime comes amid heightened tensions across England as far-right groups riot in the streets.
Speaking after a COBRA meeting this morning, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said a ‘standing army’ of specialist police officers would be set up to deal with rioting and unrest.
He said: ‘There are a number of actions that came out of the meeting. The first is we will have a standing army of specialist public duty officers so that we will have enough officers to deal with this where we need them.
‘The second is we will ramp up criminal justice. There have already been hundreds of arrests, some have appeared in court this morning.
‘I have asked for early consideration of the earliest naming and identification of those involved in the process who will feel the full force of the law.’
The rise of the far-right has so far been the biggest challenge the PM has had to face in the last one month in the post.
Addressed the nation on Sunday, he told ‘thugs’ they would ‘regret’ engaging in ‘far-right thuggery’.
He promised that those involved in unrest would ‘face the full force of the law’.
Meanwhile, home secretary Yvette Cooper said the courts are on ‘stand-by’ to ensure ‘swift justice’.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
