Urmston Jewish cemetery headstones smashed in 'hate' attack Published duration 18 June 2018

image caption Some of the headstones were left completely shattered

About 30 headstones have been pushed over and smashed at a Jewish cemetery in what police are treating as a hate crime.

Vandals targeted Urmston Jewish cemetery in Manchester on three occasions, causing £100,000 of damage.

Some of the headstones were left completely shattered.

Ian Levy, of Whitefield Hebrew Congregation, described the vandalism as "the most horrific example of mindless violence I have ever seen".

He said it may have been done by "youngsters with nothing better to do" or been motivated by "anti-Semitism".

Police are yet to make any arrests following the incidents, which happened on 7 and 14 May, and 10 June.

image caption Ian Levy described it as "mindless violence"

image caption No arrests have been made

Urmston councillor Joanne Harding said: "I think it's shocking, disrespectful and really sad people would come and damage a cemetery where there is so much history."

The Labour councillor said there was a "real visible shock in the community" and people wanted the perpetrators to be identified.