Two war memorials in central London have been vandalised, with the word “Islam” spray-painted on them. The graffiti was discovered early on Monday at the RAF Bomber Command memorial in Green Park and the Animals in War memorial in nearby Hyde Park. The inscriptions were quickly covered up by authorities.
The Bomber Command memorial, a £6m structure made of Portland stone, features a 3-metre-high bronze sculpture of seven airmen returning from a bombing raid. It commemorates the 55,573 air crew who lost their lives during the Second World War. Opened by the Queen last year, it was funded by private sponsors including Lord Ashcroft, John Caudwell and Richard Desmond, as well as public donations.
The Animals in War memorial, also made of Portland stone and costing £2m, includes bronze statues of two mules, a horse and a dog, along with the silhouettes of other service animals. It was unveiled by the Princess Royal in November 2004. Funding came from a national appeal, individual donors, charities and companies, including the estate of American philanthropist Paul Mellon.
The Metropolitan Police and Royal Parks officers are treating the incidents as criminal damage. No arrests have been made. Dean Benton, director of marketing and communications at the RAF Benevolent Fund, described the act as “mindless” and noted that £1.5m is still needed for the memorial’s upkeep. Westminster council cabinet member Ed Argar condemned the vandalism, vowing to clean and restore the memorials swiftly.
