Vandals Smash Holocaust Memorial Bench and Toss It Into Lake
Salford police are on the hunt for vandals who destroyed a Holocaust memorial bench and dumped it in Clowes Park lake. The bench’s audio box, which played survivor Chaim Ferster’s personal stories, was ripped out in the brazen attack yesterday. Authorities are treating the incident “extremely seriously.”
Community Condemns ‘Disgusting’ Antisemitic Attack
The Campaign Against Antisemitism slammed the vandalism as a “disgusting act” targeting a memorial that honours Holocaust survivors. “Instead, they are being destroyed,” the group said.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews labelled the incident “an apparent act of antisemitic hatred” and called for full prosecution. “Such hate must not be shrugged off unchallenged,” they warned.
Mayor Promises Full Restoration and Security Overhaul
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett vowed to restore the bench and bring it back to Clowes Park. He said:
“Working with Mr Chaim Ferster’s family and our local Jewish community, the City Council will restore the Holocaust Memorial Bench to its rightful place as a spot for peace and reflection.”
Dennett also pledged a thorough safety review of Clowes Park to stop future hate crimes. “Hate has no place in our great, diverse city,” he declared.
Deliberate Attack on History and Humanity
Chaim Ferster, the bench’s namesake, survived eight Nazi concentration camps. The ripped-out audio box silencing his testimony shows a clear attempt to erase Holocaust remembrance.
Locals are outraged the vandals chose a spot connected to Mr Ferster’s daily life — the very place where he walked his dog — to commit this hate crime. The attack is a blatant insult to Holocaust victims and the Jewish community.
Salford’s swift response to restore the memorial highlights the community’s stand against hatred and its pledge to preserve history for generations to come.
