Police are guarding Rochdale Cenotaph after it was vandalised with "free Palestine" graffiti amid a spate of "unacceptable" attacks.
On Tuesday afternoon, graffiti was sprayed on the Cenotaph following an incident yesterday where poppies were removed by vandals.
Rochdale Council have described the vandalism as a "totally unacceptable" act which is now being investigated.
The memorial is being protected by Police Community Support Officers this evening as police increase their patrols.
The cenotaph in Rochdale had its poppies removed and replaced with Palestinian flags as tensions grow over pro-Palestine protest on Remembrance Day
XA spokesperson for Rochdale Borough Council said: "On the afternoon of Tuesday 7 November graffiti was sprayed on the Cenotaph. This is totally unacceptable and is also being investigated by police.
"The graffiti will be removed as soon as we are able to.
"As we said in our initial response – we are proud of our strong links with our armed forces community. Our war memorials and monuments are incredibly important and should be respected by everyone at all times."
It follows another incident at the same Cenotaph yesterday, Monday, November 6.
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An investigation into the incident on Monday resulted in two teenagers being charged with intentionally or recklessly causing public nuisance.
Chief Superintendent Nicky Porter, GMP Rochdale district commander, said: “We join communities across Rochdale in being deeply saddened by the incidents at the Cenotaph – the memorial is a particularly poignant reminder of those who have given their lives to our country, particularly at this time year.
“We will not tolerate the criminal disrespect of the town’s Memorial Gardens and I hope the action we have already taken in response to these two incidents reassures our communities of that.
“Whilst the area is regularly monitored by CCTV operators and passing patrols, the partnership is working to sustain increased protection at this time.
Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators, holding Palestinian flags and banners, gather to hold a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the Parliament Square in central LondonGETTY"We have Police Community Support Officers at the scene at the moment and we will be looking to put lasting measures in place over the coming hours and days.
“We don’t underestimate the impact these events will have on our community of veterans, and I will be personally engaging with them and other community groups throughout this week.”
It comes after the cenotaph had its poppies removed and replaced with Palestinian flags earlier this week.
Video footage showed a man returning the Remembrance wreaths on the war memorial and discarding Palestinian flags.
