Up to 100 graves in the Muslim burial section of a cemetery serving parts of North London have been vandalised including those of children and babies. Brent Council has said the incident appears to be an Islamophobic hate crime and has urged anyone with information on the incident to contact the police.
Extra patrols have been deployed to Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery on Oxhey Lane in Watford, which is owned by Brent Council and used by both Brent and Harrow residents, whilst enquiries are ongoing into the ‘horrendous crime’, according to Hertfordshire Police. It is understood the incident took place on Saturday (12 April). The local authority has said it is working with officers to put in place ‘any extra security measures’ to protect the area.
The cemetery has a dedicated area for the Muslim community, which appears to have been specifically targeted. Brent Council has said up to 100 graves were desecrated, including the graves of children and babies. The An-Nisa Society, a Brent-based society that supports the Muslim community, has described the incident as ‘shocking and traumatic’.
A spokesperson for the society said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by the desecration of graves over the weekend in the Muslim section of Carpenders Park Cemetery. For many of us in Brent, this cemetery is the final resting place of our loved ones, and this attack has caused significant emotional anguish within our community.”
They added: “This attack demonstrates the magnitude of hatred towards Muslims required to carry out such a despicable act. This incident is not just a case of vandalism — it is a targeted act that must be recognised and recorded as Islamophobic. Desecrating the graves of Muslims is a direct attack on the Muslim community, the most heinous of attacks on a people. It reflects a disturbing pattern of anti-Muslim sentiment that too often goes unacknowledged.”
Since the weekend, Brent Council says it has been working alongside officers to ‘make sure everyone who needs to be is contacted’ and said the attack is being treated by Hertfordshire Police as a hate crime. The local authority has said its thoughts are with the families of those whose graves were desecrated and it ‘cannot imagine’ how they must be feeling.
Brent Council Leader, Cllr Muhammed Butt, said: “This is a very serious incident, and we continue to work closely with Hertfordshire Police to inform family members and bring the perpetrators to justice. I encourage anyone who thinks they have information that will help the investigation to call the police on 101.”
He added: “It looks as though Muslim graves have been targeted, in what appears to be an Islamophobic hate crime. There is absolutely no place for hate or discrimination of any kind anywhere, but particularly in London – a city where everyone is welcome and our diversity is one of our greatest strengths.
“We will reinstate the damaged name plaques and return Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery to a peaceful, quiet place of remembrance as quickly as possible, once the police have finished their investigation.”
Inspector Will Rogers-Overy, of Hertfordshire Police, said: “Enquiries are ongoing to further establish the circumstances, and extra patrols have been deployed in the area to reassure the community. Senior officers are working closely with local community leaders, to identify those family members who will be most affected.
“In the coming days we will engage further with the Muslim community who will have been particularly impacted by this horrendous crime. If anyone has information or witnessed the criminal damage take place, please contact police.”
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