A memorial bench dedicated to a Holocaust survivor has been "smashed and dumped" in a lake in an alleged act of "antisemitic hatred".
Police have launched an investigation after the bench was damaged and discovered in the water at Clowes Park in Salford on Wednesday.
The bench was dedicated to Chaim Ferster, who had moved to the city after surviving eight concentration camps.
It was installed at the park, where Mr Ferster often walked his dog, in 2019, two years after his death at age 94.
The bench included an audio recording featuring some of Mr Ferster's stories, which is believed to have been "ripped out" by vandals.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said: "This is an apparent act of antisemitic hatred and deliberate attack on the memory and human dignity of Holocaust survivor Chaim Ferster.
"We expect those responsible to be identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
"Acts like this must be treated with utmost seriousness.
The bench was installed in 2019 in the park where Mr Ferster regularly walked his dog
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"Such hate must not be shrugged off unchallenged."
The Campaign Against Antisemitism said the bench had been "smashed and dumped" in the lake at the park, which it labelled a "disgusting act of vandalism".
It said: "Appallingly, it appears as though the bench’s audio box was ripped out.
"The memories of Holocaust survivors must be preserved. Instead, they are being destroyed."
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Salford City Council said it will 'restore and repair' the bench
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Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, pledged the bench would be repaired and "rightfully put back into place".
He said in a statement: "Working with Mr Chaim Ferster's family and our local Jewish community, the City Council will also seek to address concerns of safety and security within Clowes Park and restore and repair the Holocaust Memorial Bench, so it can be rightfully put back into place and serve, once again, as a place of peace and reflection.
"Hate has no place in our great diverse and vibrant City of Salford and we stand shoulder to shoulder with our all our residents and communities in the face of such adversity, showing the spirit of Salford in all that we do.”
Greater Manchester Police said it is following "all lines of enquiry".
A force statement read: "We are aware of a Holocaust memorial bench being damaged and found in the lake in Clowes Park, Salford yesterday.
"It's currently unknown who the offenders are and we are currently investigating.
"We take these kinds of incidents extremely seriously and are following all lines of enquiry."