Vandalism attack at Jewish cemetery in Manchester being probed as possible hate crime

A vandalism attack at a Jewish cemetery in Manchester is being treated by English police as a hate crime.

Three chapels at Philips Park Jewish cemetery in Whitefield were damaged, two stained-glass windows were smashed, several sinks were damaged, and the cemetery surveillance system was stolen, the Manchester Evening News reports.

In addition, dozens of headstones were damaged and the grave of a prominent Manchester rabbi was smashed open, according to reports.

The attack happened between Friday afternoon and the early hours of Saturday, police tell the Manchester newspaper.

The damage will cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair. A crowdfunding page set up in the wake of the attack raised more than $9,000 in the first 17 hours.

— JTA

Today, the Jewish cemetery in Whitefield, Manchester was vandalised and graves were smashed. These cowards picking on the dead trashed the place. This is a horrible act of antisemitsm. pic.twitter.com/144tAIQIHZ

— Shmuli Brown (@UniRabbi) February 9, 2019