Islamic centre vandalised with George's Cross as 'scum behaviour' sparks unrest

An Islamic centre was vandalised as yobs spray-painted the St George's Cross on its wall in what has been described as "scum behaviour".

Police are seeking two men seen in the area when the South Essex Islamic Trust building in Basildon, Essex, was damaged on Thursday night. The words "This is England" and "Christ is King" were daubed on the building's walls in an act Essex Police has described as racially aggravated criminal damage.

Gavin Callaghan, Labour leader of Basildon Council, said: "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.

"The Council has been working with South Essex Islamic Trust all week because we knew this kind of thing was coming and we will make sure this is cleaned up quickly.

"The cowards who did this will be caught. There's CCTV everywhere in the area, and once they're identified, Essex Police must throw the book at them."

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Thousands of paintings and flags have appeared across the UK in recent weeks. Last night, protesters clashed with police outside the Bell Hotel in Epping - also in Essex - as police arrested three people.

Following the vandalism at the Islamic centre, Essex Police have released the images of two men they want to identify and with whom they want to speak.

A spokesman for the force said: "We received a report that a building had been damaged in Vange at around 11.10pm on Thursday 28 August.

"It was reported spray paint had been used on the South Essex Islamic Trust building in Hight Road. Two men were seen in the area at the time.

"One is described as white, in his 30s, with a moustache, and of muscular build, wearing black trousers, and a grey sleeveless Lonsdale Jumper. The second is described as white, around 6ft 3ins tall, slim, and wearing grey shorts, a grey hoodie, black socks and white trainers."

The force has asked anyone with information, CCTV or dash cam footage in relation to the incident to get in touch and quote crime reference number 42/124460/25.

A council, meanwhile, has issued a stern warning against daubing the St George's flagover road markings across a city. Mini-roundabouts, give-way lines and even entire zebra crossings have been painted white and red across Colchester, Essex, in recent weeks, following similar emergences in towns and cities across the UK. However, in some cases police forces have launched investigations into the "acts of vandalism".

While those responsible say the work is "patriotic not racist", Colchester Council has told its residents the daubings are "not permitted under current regulations"