Police support officers are guarding the Cenotaph in Rochdale after “Free Palestine” was painted across it ahead of Remembrance Sunday.
It follows two incidents at the cenotaph, one on Monday and one today. It is understood the graffiti appeared on Tuesday afternoon.
Two teenagers, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been charged with intentionally or recklessly causing public nuisance.
Image: ‘Free Palestine’ written on Rochdale Cenotaph
Image: Paint on the side of Rochdale Cenotaph
Speaking to Sky News, Billy Howarth, from Rochdale, described it as “heartbreaking”.
“I’ve been coming and going for the last two or three days trying to protect it in small ways,” he said.
“This is the third attack on it in a week.
“This community is very veteran-led in Rochdale. It’s got a lot of veterans – it’s disturbing.”
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. 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.”
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It comes ahead of remembrance ceremonies across the UK this weekend. The Met Police in London have asked pro-Palestine demonstrators not to march.
However, Met Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has said the protest will go ahead, adding legally there is “no mechanism to ban a gathering, a static protest” – but that “if there’s a march towards the rally… that march in extremis can be banned.”
The protest will be “well away” from the monument, organisers have said, instead going from Hyde Park to the US embassy, and that it won’t start until after the 11am silence.
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0:55
Will pro-Palestine marches be banned on Armistice Day?
On Saturday, the home secretary said anyone vandalising the Cenotaph in central London on Armistice Day “must be put into a jail cell faster than their feet can touch the ground”.
Speaking exclusively to Sky News, Suella Braverman said she doesn’t want to “undermine” the police process by banning pro-Palestinian protests planned for Armistice Day next weekend, but that behaviour on the marches had been “utterly despicable”.
Thousands have protested in recent weeks over Palestinian deaths in the Israel-Hamas war, with 29 arrests during a fourth week of protests last Saturday, when a dispersal order was authorised.
Five people were also arrested at a pro-Palestinian protest at London’s King’s Cross station on Friday.
No demonstrations are planned in London for Remembrance Sunday, when veterans parade past the Cenotaph and politicians and royals lay wreaths.
Sir Keir Starmer has suggested a coalition of European allies could step up and defend a potential deal for Ukraine to “guarantee the peace”.
The prime minister indicated some EU nations could be prepared to increase defence spending to protect any peace deal that is agreed between Ukraine and Russia.
But speaking at summit of EU leaders in central London, Sir Keir acknowledged that no such coalition had yet been formed and that “not every nation will feel able to contribute”.
Instead, he said “those willing” – though he did not state which countries this included – would “intensify planning now with real urgency”.
In a sign this could mean troops from member states being sent to Ukraine, he added: “The UK is prepared to back this with boots on the ground and planes in the air, together with others. Europe must do the heavy lifting.”
The UK, France and Ukraine will work on a ceasefire plan to present to the United States, the prime minister has said, in the wake of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s White House clash with Donald Trump.
Sir Keir Starmer, who visited Washington on Thursday, said he believes Mr Trump does want a “lasting peace” between Russia and Ukraine.
He also said Europe is in a “moment of real fragility” and he would not trust the word of Vladimir Putin.
Referring to the argument in the White House’s Oval Office on Thursday between Mr Trump, US vice president JD Vance and Ukrainian president Mr Zelenskyy, the PM said it made him feel “uncomfortable”.
“Nobody wants to see that,” he told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.
He added: “We have to find a way that we can all work together. Because, in the end, we’ve had three years of bloody conflict. Now, we need to get to that lasting peace.”
“Clearly, you know, there’s a lot of tension,” he said. “The cameras were on.”
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1:42
When Starmer met Zelenskyy: What happened?
Later in the evening he phoned both Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy, saying his “driving purpose” is to “bridge this and get us back to the central focus”.
On Saturday, the PM said he had “quite a long time with President Zelenskyy” before speaking to Donald Trump and French president Emmanuel Macron on the phone.
“We’ve now agreed that the United Kingdom, along with France and possibly one or two others, will work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting, and then we’ll discuss that plan with the United States,” he said.
Of Mr Trump, he said: “I am clear in my mind that he does want a lasting peace.”
Asked why that was, he said: “Because I’ve spoken to him a number of times. I’ve got to know him. I’ve had extensive discussions with him and I believe his motivation is lasting peace.”
He added: “If the central question you’re putting to me is do I trust Donald Trump when he says he wants lasting peace? The answer to that question is yes.”
The PM said he was still pushing for a US “backstop” on Ukrainian security, adding that it was the subject of “intense” discussion.
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3:40
Ukrainians react to Trump row
The “components of a lasting peace”, he said, include a “strong Ukraine to fight on, if necessary, to be in a position of strength”.
And he is pursuing a “European element to security guarantees”.
“That’s why I’ve been forward-leaning on this about what we would do – and a US backstop,” he said.
“That’s the package: all three parts need to be in place, and that’s what I’m working hard to bring together.”
Asked if he would trust Vladimir Putin, Sir Keir said: “Well, no, I wouldn’t trust Putin, which is why I want a security guarantee.
“I wouldn’t trust him not to come again, because he’s proven that he will come again. He’s already done it and we know what his ambitions are.”
Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said his party would support sending British troops to Ukraine as peacekeepers in the event that a “credible” deal is struck.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said European nations need to “make sure that America does not disengage”, adding: “If we all get dragged into an escalation, America will get dragged into it eventually.”
She described Volodymyr Zelenslyy as a “hero” and said her heart “went out to” him during the on-camera argument at the White House.
“I watched it and I couldn’t believe what was happening,” she said. “He was being humiliated.”
Such “difficult conversations” should not happen in front of the cameras, she added.
Image: Sir Keir Starmer greets Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni in Downing Street. Pic: Reuters
The UK is holding an international defence summit on Sunday, hosting the leaders of Italy, France, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Poland, Canada, Finland and Romania.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told Sir Keir Starmer it is “very, very important that we avoid the risk that the West divides” as she arrived for talks at Number 10.
EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, and Turkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan will also attend the summit.
It is hoped the meeting will help to get things “back on track”, a government source has told Sky News.
However, they admitted there will be “more ups and downs” ahead.
“We must keep our eyes on the prize.”
The insider added that the government was “working yesterday to get [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy back to the table” and finish the minerals deal with the US.
That was thrown into question on Friday during the clash at the White House.
The source said: “We think it’s the right thing to do. Today is about getting European leaders to go beyond the Twitter rhetoric and step up on defence spending – prepare now for a world with no US security guarantee for Europe, not just in Ukraine.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the Ukrainian people “are truly thankful” for US support, hours after talks with Donald Trump descended into a row at the White House.
In a lengthy social media post, Mr Zelenskyy said: “I always begin with words of gratitude from our nation to the American nation”.
The Ukrainian president insisted the US-Ukraine relationship “is more than just two leaders” but it was “crucial” for his country to have Mr Trump’s support.
He added: “American people helped save our people. Humans and human rights come first. We’re truly thankful. We want only strong relations with America, and I really hope we will have them.”
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Mr Zelenskyy will meet Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street on Saturday afternoon after his plane landed at Stansted Airport.
It comes ahead of a major summit hosted by the UK prime minister on Sunday, where more than a dozen European and EU leaders including Mr Zelenskyy will meet to discuss the Ukraine war and security.
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0:28
Zelenskyy’s plane lands in UK
The Ukrainian president had travelled to Washington DC to attempt to secure a ceasefire agreement after three years of war with Russia and a possible mineral deal with the US.
The meeting descended into a shouting match in front of cameras and journalists.
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10:47
Watch Trump and Zelenskyy clash
Mr Vance told Mr Zelenskyy: “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come to the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media.
“You should be thanking the President [Trump] for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”
Image: Mr Zelenskyy and Mr Trump clash. Pics: Reuters
‘You’re gambling with World War Three’
The Ukrainian president tried to object but Mr Trump spoke over him and told him: “You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people.
“You’re gambling with World War Three, and what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people say they should have.”
Mr Zelenskyy defended himself and his country, openly challenging Mr Trump on his softer approach to Vladimir Putin and urging him to make “no compromises with a killer”.