The Mayor of North Lincolnshire today branded the desecration of more than 20 Muslim graves as devastating.

The gravestones have been vandalised in two separate areas of Brumby cemetery, and nearly 10 of the damaged graves were of children and babies.

Coun Jawaid Ishaq said the vandalised gravestones included that of a very close friend, Mohammed Abdullah, the first person he met when he moved to Scunthorpe.

"This attack is devastating," he said.

"I know 70 per cent of the people buried here, including all the children's graves.

"It is heart-breaking that all of a sudden some thugs have done this."

Twenty-four Muslim headstones were knocked over or damaged in the Cemetery, on Cemetery Road, Scunthorpe.

Coun Ishaq said: "This is purely a racist attack as it has just been Muslim graves. It is a clear-cut situation.

"I have lived in North Lincolnshire for 45 years and I have never seen anything like this.

"This morning, when I found out, I felt so low as to what can happen in your own town."

Coun Mashook Ali has also condemned the attacks. He said: "I am appalled after hearing about this incident.

"We all need to be respected and especially our dead, regardless of religious denomination. "I hope this never happens again."

A special Muslim service will be held tomorrow to remember those whose graves had been desecrated.

Police have carried out house-to-house inquiries in the area.

They are appealing for anybody who saw any suspicious activity in the area to come forward.

News of the attack was revealed yesterday on www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk and Scunthorpe neighbourhood police sergeant James Main vowed to personally bring to justice anybody connected with the incident.

He said: "This is one of the most despicable crimes you could ever commit.

"It is not just the financial cost, this is emotionally damaging.

"The people who have carried out this crime are heartless.

"I would ask them how they would feel if it was one of their relative's graves that had been attacked or damaged in such a way.

"My team will do everything in their power to identify the offenders and bring them before the courts."

This is the second time the cemetery has been targeted in less than 18 months - the last time was in March 2007.

Two brothers, aged 12 and 14, were caught and brought before the courts in April 2007.

They were given nine month referral orders and told to pay £440 in compensation.

Anyone with information about the latest attack, on Monday, should contact Humberside Police on 0845 60 60 222 quoting log 383 of 12/08/08.

Source: www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk

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