Philadelphia World War I memorial vandalized with pro-Hamas message: police

PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia Police are investigating after they say a war monument was vandalized in the city's Burholme neighborhood overnight.

Police received a report of vandalism at the Burholme World War I Memorial at Rising Sun Avenue.

Officers arrived to find that the monument had been defaced with red spray paint reading ‘Hamas is here.’

No arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing.

The memorial was dedicated in 1929. A plaque on the memorial reads: "To honor the valiant sons of Burholme and all others who served their country in the World War."

Aizaz Gill, President of the Burholme Civic Association and Townwatch, issued a statement on the vandalism, noting that the paint had already been cleaned up.

"Our community respects our veterans and will never take lightly the cowardly actions of those who defaced our memorial last night. Their actions were not a protest, they were a crime against our community and our nation’s veterans. This morning, when the defacement was discovered, the Burholme Townwatch and Civic Association and residents of Burnholme came together to do what’s right as they always do. Within hours and with the help of our 2nd Philadelphia Police District and CLIP city workers, the terrible vandalism was addressed and its stain removed from our neighborhood. We thank everyone involved with helping in such a timely manner."