Gravestones in a north Yorkshire cemetery have been vandalised with military symbols.
North Yorkshire Police posted pictures of the stones in Ripon Cemetery covered in Russian Z’s, Nazi swastikas and IRA graffiti.
The letter Z is seen as a pro-war Russian symbol of Vladimir Putin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which passed a month on Thursday.
Ripon is home to the army's Claro barracks, which closed back in 2017.
It had also billeted troops during World War One.
The stones have been covered in Russian Z’s, Nazi swastikas and IRA graffiti
North Yorkshire Police
Graffitied gravestones in Ripon Cemetery
In a statement on Twitter, North Yorkshire Police said: “The local community will be shocked by this vandalism - as are we.
“And it's particularly upsetting for the city's large military community.
It added: “We've increased our patrols around local cemeteries to prevent further incidents of this nature.”
An investigation is underway, and anyone with any information is being urged to Call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Katie Bell.
