Hertfordshire police have launched an investigation into the vandalism of 85 Muslim graves located in Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery, Watford.
Police said the majority of damage was done to graves which were “the resting place of babies and young children” and have since launched extra patrols in the area as well as called for any witnesses to come forward with information.
One inspector told reporters that senior officers have started working with local community leaders to identify the families of those buried at the site.
“In the coming days we will engage further with the Muslim community who will have been particularly impacted by this horrendous crime,” inspector Will Rogers-Overy said.
The New Arab reached out to the MET police to ask if the vandalism was an Islamophobic hate crime, however, did not receive an answer by the time of publication.
Images from the cemetery, owned by Brent Council, show scores of plaques removed from the ground and scattered across the ground.
Following the vandalism, a statement from Wadi Funeralcare read: “We await an update from Hertfordshire Police with regards to the investigation. This incident has deeply shaken our community, but the swift response and shared outrage remind us of the strength we have when we stand together”.
The funeral care service further called on members of the community to join them in demanding accountability and justice, urging them to reach out to Brent Council and express their concerns.
Many key figures and local Muslims in the community voiced alarm at the situation.
Conservative councillor Abbas Merali denounced the act as “barbaric” and said it has “caused immense anguish to grieving families and profound hurt across our community”.
The chief superintendent of Hertfordshire Police, Jon Simpson said: “At this stage, we are keeping an open mind as to the nature of this incident and in the coming days we will continue to engage with our Muslim communities to provide support and reassurance”.
However, Muslims have called on the police to treat it as an Islamophobic attack, highlighting that no other graves had been targeted.
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) also weighed in on the vandalism, saying it “appears to be an Islamophobic attack”.
“We urge that this be met with the full weight of accountability – and formally recognised for what it is: a targeted act of hate,” they added, noting that the Muslim community needs reassurance that such acts will not be ignored.
In a comment given to her funeral provider, Alicia Hussain confirmed her daughter’s grave was affected by the vandalism, calling it “cruel, cold, deeply violating”.
“I recently became aware — through social media, not official communication — that babies’ graves had been vandalised at Carpenders Park cemetery. To my horror, upon arriving my daughter’s and other baby graves had a police cordon tape around them,” she added.
Hussain stated the incident took place on Thursday, but did not receive any official correspondence about what had happened, leaving her to find out through social media.
Grieving parents “deserve better,” she said, referring to the lack of communication from Brent Council.
