Nelson Mandela memorial in Liverpool is damaged and vandalised with racist graffiti in ‘hate crime’ attack

• Stones at the memorial have been chipped and one has been tossed into lake
• Merseyside Police said they ‘will not tolerate hate crime in any form’ 

A Nelson Mandela memorial in Liverpool has been damaged and vandalised with racist graffiti in an attack police are treating as a ‘hate crime’.

The monument, which mimics an outdoor classroom, is made up of several stones – some of which have been chipped, while one has been tossed into the lake.

The memorial was unveiled by Mr Mandela’s daughter and granddaughter in a ceremony attended by hundreds of people in July this year.

Merseyside Police said officers were patrolling Princes Park in Toxteth, when they came across the damaged memorial and racist graffiti.

The force are appealing for more information and are ‘continuing to provide a visible presence in the area’.

Sonia Bassey, chair of Mandela8 told the Liverpool Echo: ‘Unspeakable acts of racism like this do not make us angry they just reaffirm that there are undesirable individuals living in society amongst us who commit horrible acts like this. 

‘As a Black led anti-racist organisation we must always fight and stand up to racism and call it out.’

Merseyside Police said that they were patrolling Princes Park in Toxteth, when they came across the damaged memorial and racist graffiti

The memorial has several stones, two of which have been damaged as one has been tossed into the river and the other has been chipped

A week before the ribbon was cut at the memorial, Mandela8 said: ‘The memorial signifies a place where people can come to learn, reflect and feel proud of what can be achieved when communities come together from different parts of the world.’

The idea for the memorial was formed nearly a decade ago after Mr Mandela died in 2013 at 95 years old. 

The space has 32 pillars for people to sit down on, around the same size as a classroom in the UK. 

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: ‘Merseyside Police will not tolerate hate crime in any form and is working to identify and bring to justice anyone found responsible for committing a hate crime.

‘Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police social media desk via Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’ quoting reference 23001103759. You can also call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.’

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