Two arrested after Israel flag featuring Nazi swastika is put up at university

Two arrested after Israel flag featuring Nazi swastika is put up at university

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Two people have been arrested after an Israel flag with the Nazi swastika was put up at a university in London.

Surrey Police is investigating the incident at Royal Holloway, University of London, which is based in Egham, Surrey.

It said there have been ‘a number of reports of hate crime’ at the university, after the Israel-Palestine conflict in the Middle East came to a head in recent days.

In one instance, a poster with a swastika in place of the Star of David on the flag of Israel was hung outside the university library.

A police spokesperson confirmed a 21-year-old man from Egham and a 19-year-old woman from Englefield Green have been arrested, and they have been released on bail while an investigation continues.

Writing on a Facebook group for Royal Holloway students, a woman who came across one of the posters called the images ‘disgusting’.

‘Whichever n***e thought it was okay to put the Nazi swastika on our library terrace, f**k you,’ she said.

‘I’ve taken your sh***y little sign down that was very neatly taped. You have no place at this university and I hope you get kicked out.’

Another student tweeted: ‘This was undeniably done by a student, as non-students don’t have access to the library. This is who we share a campus with.’

It comes after Metro.co.uk reported this week that Jewish students are receiving swathes of death threats, rape threats, Holocaust jokes and comments saying: ‘Hitler was right.’ 

Royal Holloway’s Jewish Society called on the university to ‘take a stand against such vicious prejudice’ and anti-Semitism.

They wrote in a statement posted on Instagram: ‘Opposition to the Israeli government’s actions does not justify these acts of bigotry, just as Islamist violence does not justify Islamophobic bigotry.

‘Royal Holloway has garnered a reputation of being a liberal, diverse and welcoming university, yet these images and experiences make Jewish students feel more and more as if that doesn’t apply to them.’

A spokesperson for Surrey Police said: ‘A 21-year-old man from Egham and a 19-year-old woman from Englefield Green were arrested last night on suspicion of offences contrary to section 18 of the Public Order Act.

‘They were both issued with police bail earlier this evening (May 19) while our investigation continues.

‘This relates to a number of reports of hate crime at Royal Holloway University. We are working closely with the university as our investigation progresses.’

Jon Howden-Evans, director of student and support services at Royal Holloway, said: ‘Within our community at Royal Holloway, we seek to uphold principles of respect for individuals.

‘Our university has an abhorrence of violence, discrimination and harassment and we believe that we all have a role to play in maintaining a peaceful, respectful, inclusive and welcoming community, on and off-campus.

‘We witnessed unacceptable behaviour on our campus and online last weekend which we reported to the police who have now taken action and arrests have been made.

‘We are also following our own disciplinary procedures and will not hesitate to use the full range of sanctions available to us.’

He added anyone with concerns should contact the student and staff welfare teams on [email protected].

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

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