Police want to speak to this man after alleged hate crimes in city
POLICE want to speak to a man in relation to alleged hate crime offences in Newport.
A school was set on fire and covered with Nazi symbols in a series of incidents committed over the bank holiday weekend.
A Masonic hall and university campus in Newport were also damaged and vandalised, in what police have described as “a series of hate crime incidents”.
Gwent Police are investigating incidents at the Masonic hall in Lower Dock Street, the Probation Office in Lower Dock Street, the University of Wales’ Newport city centre campus and Bassaleg School.
The incidents are believed to have taken place between the evening of Sunday, May 27, and the morning of Tuesday, May 29.
The crimes came after Nazi graffiti appeared on streets in Cardiff in March. In Newport, the Masonic hall in Lower Dock Street was set on fire overnight last Monday.
Extensive damage was caused to the fire exit door.
Then, on Monday afternoon, it was reported that offensive graffiti had been sprayed on part of the University of Wales’ Newport city centre campus – again believed to have been carried out the night before.
And at approximately 2.40am on Tuesday, officers attended Bassaleg School, where a window had been forced open and a small fire deliberately started.
Offensive graffiti had also been sprayed on the premises.
In April a swastika sign and the word “nazizone” were found graffitied on walls near Roald Dahl Plas in Cardiff.
A homophobic slur was also sprayed on boarding promoting The Lady Boys of Bangkok show.
And in March, racist graffiti and posters appeared in a Cardiff suburb overnight.
The swastika and other racist material appeared on walls in Grangetown, the day before an anti-racism march was due to take place in the area.
Following the events in Newport, Gwent Police would like to speak to the man pictured in the CCTV image who could help with ongoing enquiries.
Anyone who recognises the man or has information about these incidents should call Gwent Police on 101, using the crime reference 157 of 28/5/18.
Alternatively you can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.