Teenager arrested on suspicion of Barnstaple swastika rampage

AN 18-year-old local man has been arrested in connection with a tidal wave of offensive swastika graffiti that appeared throughout Barnstaple overnight. A series of swastikas have been painted on the roundabout stones at the bottom of Sticklepath Hill as

AN 18-year-old local man has been arrested in connection with a tidal wave of offensive swastika graffiti that appeared throughout Barnstaple overnight.

A series of swastikas have been painted on the roundabout stones at the bottom of Sticklepath Hill as well as all over town in what appears to be a rampage of graffiti, together with racist hate slogans daubed on a local church.

Within the last hour police have taken a suspect into custody and are continuing to check CCTV footage for evidence.

Sergeant Paul Jones, Neighbourhood Team Leader for Barnstaple, said the emblems, once the symbol of the hated Nazi party, were also scattered along the Strand on property and near the telephone kiosks as well as on underpasses and walls around the town. Police were initially called out to the roundabout stones just after 10.20pm last night (Thursday.)

"A local church has also been graffitied with particularly offensive remarks," he said.

"In 21 years of policing I have never seen graffiti of this scale and this offence. I understand there's a lot of shock and anger out there but we want to move to reassure people we are dealing with this robustly and looking to resolve the situation.

"We are working closely with our colleagues at Barnstaple CCTV and have identified one suspected offender.

"I still fully expect we are going to get more reports of graffiti we haven't found yet and would ask anyone who sees any to report it to us on 08452 777444.