Police are investigating a racially-motivated hate crime in which an abusive banner was erected in an Essex town, believed to be targeting a refugee family.
Officers were contacted at 7pm on Tuesday to a sign containing “racially abusive language” that had been put up at the junction of Church Road and Samson’s Road in Brightlingsea.
The sign said: “Say no to Syrians and Maria Wilby”, which was understood to have been put up at some point on Tuesday afternoon.
It is believed the sign is in reference to a Syrian refugee family who fled the war-ravaged nation and found refuge in the town, and shared their story as part of the national Refugee Week.
An Essex Police spokesman said: “Police are investigating reports a sign containing racially abusive language was put up in Brightlingsea.
“Officers were contacted at 7pm on Tuesday, June 20.
“The incident is being treated as a hate crime and enquiries are ongoing.”
A picture of the abusive sign was posted on social media, causing a swathe of comments hitting out at the language, which was branded “disgusting” and “awful”.
Ian Block, Brightlingsea town mayor, condemned those behind the sign and said it was unrepresentative of the town itself.
“Ninety-five percent of people in Brightlingsea welcome the people in,” he said.
“But unfortunately we get a small proportion of racists and bigots and I am absolutely disgusted by their behaviour.
“These people have been through hell and they should be accepted in the community.”
The sign has since been removed and destroyed.
Earlier this week, 34-year-old Zak Al Halak and his wife Ghaliya, 25, spoke of their experience in having to flee Syria with their three children, becoming one of 15 families to have found refuge in Essex.
The family was living in Talkalakh, just north of the Lebanese border when their home faced repeated shelling, their business was ruined by looting, and Zak was separated from Ghaliya for nearly two months as they fled to Lebanon to avoid persecution.
The family suffered further there before making the trip to the UK where they have reported feeling “safe and welcome”.
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