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ROCKVILLE, MD — Nazi swastikas were painted at a Rockville park and elementary school Sunday afternoon, an act that police call a hate crime. Montgomery County Police on Tuesday asked the public for help locating the vandalism suspects, described as two teenage boys.

The vandalism likely happened between 3:45 and 4 p.m. April 24 at Welsh Park on Mannakee Street and at Beall Elementary School, 451 Beall Ave. in Rockville. A witness reported seeing two boys, described as white teenagers, spray-painting swastikas in the woods between the school and Welsh Park. While police couldn't find the youths, they spotted two painted swastikas along the footpath in the wooded area near the dead end of Luckett Street.

Authorities say one of the swastikas was painted on the trunk of a tree and the other was painted on a memorial stone with a plaque commemorating "Charles W. Gilchrist – Forest Preserve at Welsh Park – Dedicated to the Citizens of Rockville." A third swastika was painted on a piece of exercise equipment near the portable classrooms on the grounds of Beall Elementary School.

The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington and the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington have been contacted about the incident.

Anyone with information about the vandalism or the suspects is asked to call police at 240-773-6084.