Racial vandalism posts show 'best and worst of society'

Social media commentary after an Islamic community centre was targeted by vandals had showed the "best and worst of society", a police officer has said.

Devon and Cornwall Police previously described the incident as "racially aggravated criminal damage".

The Cornwall Islamic Community Centre near Carnon Downs in Cornwall was targeted on Thursday, with "substantial damage" done to metal entrance gates, thought to have been caused by a vehicle, and a substance suspected to be oil poured on the grounds and wall.

Ch Supt Scott Bradley, police commander for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said his reflection of the incident included the "various social media commentary that followed".

Bradley said: "I think it would be fair to say that we probably saw the best and worst of society in the aftermath of that attack."

He added: "The investigation is ongoing... we've got some lines of inquiry that we're following up at the moment."

"Generally the overwhelming voice is one of positivity in terms of the support that the community has provided but it would be remiss of me to overlook some of the negative commentary... which if I'm brutally honest was extremely difficult to read," Bradley said.

He said he was pleased to see admins of social media groups "manage commentary" because "to a degree society has to police itself in that space".

He added if there was content reported to police or officers saw something they believed was at or beyond a "criminal threshold" they would investigate.

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