Swastikas graffitied on underpass in Southampton Common

Members of the Jewish community have branded the graffiti as "deliberate" as the sick markings were found during Shavuot, a three-day religious holiday.

Some of the graffiti calls for supporters of Zionism to be killed, says Sarah Pearce, 60, who lectures in Jewish history at the University of Southampton and is Jewish.

She said: "It's concerning, and you don't expect something like this to happen in such a welcoming place like Southampton, especially when it's there for all to see in broad daylight. You want Jewish people to feel safe in Southampton.”

Sarah Pearce (Image: Submitted)

It comes after swastikas were painted on trees at Southampton Common in April, that coincided with the anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen, a Nazi concentration camp where around 50,000 Jews, prisoners of war, and political prisoners were killed.

Tim Tofts, Southampton Council of Faiths (SCOF) chair, added that graffiti is a “public artform” but when it’s used to promote racism, it “becomes a gross form of indecency and even worse.”

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He said: “The underpass is used by a large number of people including children. 

“It is conspicuous to me as chair of SCOF that many of the people who cross this section of the Common belong to minority groups and would find such comments to be highly offensive, if not provocative of intolerance.

“I am very aware of the pressures on our Jewish community at this time and pause to reflect on the offence that such graffiti would certainly give to them, and other decent people.”

Some of the antisemitic markings were later painted over in the underpass, having been in full view of the public.

Speaking to the Echo, Cllr George Percival, said it was the third time it was the third time in three months the Nazi symbol had been spraypainted in Southampton, highlighting another incident in St James’ Park in Shirley last month.

He said: “This is now the third incident of antisemitic graffiti in a short space of time, including one at St James’ Park in May.

“While the council has removed it quickly each time, the fact it keeps happening is deeply concerning.

“This isn’t a one-off, it’s a pattern. I’m calling for a full police investigation to identify whoever is responsible and ensure it doesn’t continue. There’s no place for this in our city."

Hampshire police said they had not received any report of the vandalism.