21 Oct 2012

Two arrests following gravestone attack

10:00 pm on 21 October 2012

Two men have been arrested after several Jewish headstones in Auckland were vandalised with anti-Semitic slogans.

At least 20 headstones were defaced or damaged at the Symond Street cemetery, last week.

A 19-year-old and a 23-year-old have been charged with wilful damage and police say more arrests are likely as their investigations continue.

The 23-year-old man is due to appear in the Auckland District Court on Monday, while the 19-year-old has been granted bail until his court appearance on Tuesday.

Some of the headstones were spray painted with anti-Semitic slogans and swastikas in the attack earlier in the week.

The Auckland Council said at the time the attack was abhorrent and extremely distressing.