Anti-semitic graffiti has been cleaned off a Borough High Street building by Southwark Council.
The graffiti, which included a Star of David drawn next to a swastika, was seen on Tuesday morning and reported to the council. The Star of David is a Jewish symbol that is also used on the flag of Israel.
Other phrases graffitied onto the building included “Free Plestine or eless” [sic] and “Right to Return”.
Phil Dave, who discovered the graffiti and flagged it to the council, as well as the Community Security Trust, an organisation that supports Jewish people in the UK, said that the daubings were “infuriating” and “frustrating”.
“There are people who are upset by things like that. Luckily I am thicker skinned. It’s more frustrating to think that there are people who live in the most multicultural city in the word [and spray anti-semitic graffiti]”.
Mr Dave, a radio broadcaster, added: “The only thing that I find curious is that we don’t seem to understand that something is racism… It never feels that anti–Semitism is taken as seriously as crimes against other minorities.
“It never escapes my notice that when you look at the reaction to another minority being attacked… there seems to be considerably more outcry. I find that particularly disappointing. I dare say I’m used to it, I don’t like it though.”
Councillor Darren Merrill, cabinet member for a safer, cleaner borough, said: “Southwark Council does not tolerate hateful or racist language in any way, shape or form. We have worked with the building owner removed the offending graffiti.”