Vandals desecrate east London Jewish memorial with raw meat

Vandalised: the war memorial
Twitter/@itsme_LaurenJ
Rachel Blundy20 August 2015

Vandals have desecrated a Jewish-funded memorial statue with raw meat in an apparently anti-Semitic attack in east London.

The Edward VII Drinking Fountain on Whitechapel Road, Tower Hamlets, was seen covered in chicken and slabs of red meat this morning.

The fountain, designed by sculptor William Silver Frith, was a tribute to the eldest son of Queen Victoria. It was paid for by the area's Jewish residents in the early 20th century.

The inscription on the fountain reads: "In grateful and loyal memory of Edward VII, Rex et Imperator, Erected by subscriptions raised by Jewish inhabitants of East London, 1911."

Lauren Justice, who spotted the vandalism on her way to work this morning, posted images online calling on the council to come and clean it up.

She told the Standard: "I was just coming into Whitechapel for work this morning - usually I do not see the memorial because it is concealed by market stalls, but today it was just covered in meat.

"I just think it is disgusting. It is a memorial. I do not know if they think it is funny or what, but it cannot be allowed to stay up like that. I find it offensive."

When asked whether she thought the vandalism was anti-Semitic, she said: "That is the impression it gives."

A spokeswoman for Tower Hamlets council said maintenance workers had been sent to clean up the fountain this morning. She said the incident had been reported to police, who had launched an investigation.

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