Shocking moment man destroys Jewish memorial on eve of October 7 anniversary

Police have launched an investigation after a man was filmed damaging a Jewish memorial in Hove, Brighton, on the eve of October 7.

The footage, which has been shared across social media, shows a man tearing down a number of items including tributes, teddy bears and flowers at the memorial for the victims of the October 7 attacks on Israel last year.

The perpetrator is then confronted by another man who moves him away from the memorial.

Sussex Police responded to the video on X, formerly Twitter, and confirmed the incident was being treated as a “hate crime”.

The force said: “We are aware of a video circulating online of a man damaging a Jewish memorial in Hove and are treating it as a hate crime.

“An investigation is underway and any information can be reported online or via 101, quoting reference 158 of 04/10.”

The police probe comes just one day before a memorial event in Hove’s Palmeira Square to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks on Israel.

The organisers of this ceremony have been contacted for comment.

Around 1,200 Israelis were killed, including 797 civilians and 36 children, and 250 others were taken hostage in a series of attacks by Palestinian militants.

Commemorative events took place across the UK on Sunday, with thousands gathering in London’s Hyde Park and memorial ceremonies being held in Manchester and Leeds.

Six Muslim and six Jewish women also met at St John’s Church in Waterloo to talk about the impact the conflict in the Middle East is having on communities in the UK and to help “stop the hate on (Britain’s) streets”.