St George's crosses and the phrases "this is England" and "Christ is king" were spray-painted in red on the South Essex Islamic Centre on High Road, Vange at around 11pm on Thursday. Essex Police are treating the incident as racially aggravated criminal damage and have issued photos and descriptions of two men they want to speak to. One suspect is described as a white man in his 30s with a moustache and muscular build wearing a grey sleeveless Lonsdale jumper; the other as a white man around 6ft 3in, slim, in a grey hoodie and shorts. Basildon Council leader Gavin Callaghan called the vandalism "a disgrace" and appealed for accountability. Police asked anyone with information, CCTV, dash-cam or other footage to contact them.
Police are looking for two men after St George's crosses and the words "this is England" were painted on an Islamic centre building. Essex Police has issued photos of two men and said it is investigating the incident in High Road, Vange, as racially aggravated criminal damage. The force said it was reported that spray paint was used on the South Essex Islamic Centre building at around 11pm on Thursday.
The Labour leader of Basildon Council, Gavin Callaghan, posted photos of the building on X, formerly Twitter, and called the damage "a disgrace". Images show St George's crosses in red paint on walls, the words "this is England" and "Christ is king". Mr Callaghan wrote: "The vandalism at the South Essex Islamic Centre is a disgrace. "Don't dress it up. Don't excuse it. "It's scum behaviour, and it shames our town."
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