Police are appealing for witnesses following hate crime reports in the Holland Park area

The Metropolitan Police is investigating two vandalism incidents, which are being treated as religiously aggravated hate crimes.

The first report was made to police at 16:03hrs on Tuesday, 16 December after a painting of a Menorah was damaged with white paint on Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill.

At around 17:00hrs the same day, a Menorah close to Holland Park roundabout was reported as having been damaged so that it would no longer light up. The Menorah had been placed on display at around 16:00hrs on Saturday, 13 December and the exact date and time of the offence is currently unknown.

Officers are appealing to anyone who saw anything suspicious to come forward - near the Menorah area in Westbourne Grove on Tuesday, 16 December, or around the Menorah close to Holland Park roundabout between Saturday, 13 December and Tuesday, 16 December.

Superintendent Owen Renowden, the Met’s hate crime lead, said:

“Our officers have wrapped around these incidents quickly and continue to investigate at pace. Enquiries remain in the early stages and we’re keeping an open mind as to whether these reports are linked.

“This has been a tremendously difficult week for the Jewish community following the terror attack in Australia at the weekend, and I appreciate how these hate crime incidents will cause further hurt and distress.

“We’re working closely with local partners including religious leaders and have put in place additional visible patrols.

“We are treating these reports extremely seriously and will update further when we can. I encourage anyone with any information, who may have witnessed suspicious behaviour in the Holland Park area this week, to contact us and assist with our investigation.”

Enquiries remain ongoing and anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting CAD5183/16Dec and CAD5739/16Dec.