Graffiti on church bus treated as race attack
GRAFFITI which was daubed across a church bus is being treated as a racially aggravated offence by police.
Vandals sprayed the words ‘All Lives Matter’ across the front of a minibus owned by the United Church of God Assemblies, in Longsight.
The act was slammed as a ‘deliberate attack to spread hate and divide communities’ by one councillor.
And police have now confirmed that they are investigating the incident and treating it as a racially aggravated offence.
Gorton MP Afzal Khan yesterday spoke of his shock at the incident.
In a tweet, he commented: “Shocked and angered to see this take place in Manchester Gorton - my solidarity is with the congregation of United Church of God Assembly in Longsight.
“If you have any information about who might have carried out this attack, please get in touch with @gmpolice.”
Manchester council’s neighbourhoods lead, Coun Rabnawaz Akbar, said the congregation at the church are ‘predominantly black’ and that the vandalism was a ‘deliberate attack to spread hate and divide communities.’
He tweeted: “I am appalled that racist vandals have targeted a vehicle belonging to a church in Longsight with a predominantly black congregation.
“This is a deliberate attack to spread hate and divide communities but we will not allow them to succeed.”
He told the M.E.N: “I’ve lived in Longsight for nearly 30 years and it’s a very diverse place.
“I was absolutely appalled to hear about this, especially as the George Floyd mural was also vandalised. “The fact that this is a congregation from a predominantly black background shows this was a deliberate act of vandalism and racism.”
Police were called to a report of criminal damage to a vehicle on Rushford Street, in Longsight, at around 6.40pm on Wednesday (July 22).
It is believed the damage occurred in the early hours of Wednesday. Chief Inspector Denise Pye said: “Due to the nature of the words written on the bus, this is being treated as a racially aggravated offence.
“We’d encourage anyone with any information to get in touch with police immediately.”
The incident in Longsight was discovered just hours after a mural of George Floyd was spray painted with a racist word.
Anyone with information about either incident can contact police on 101 or Crimsetoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.