The Mayor of Liverpool has decried the vandalism of a memorial to refugees in the city.
Joe Anderson labelled the act “despicable” after ‘invaders not refugees’ was daubed on a tribute to 34,361 deceased asylum seekers, migrants and refugees.
The installation, called The List, was created to commemorate those who had died within or on the borders of Europe during the past 25 years.
Liverpool Biennial commissioned artist Istanbul-based artist Banu Cennetoglu to create the tribute which is due to remain on Great George Street until October.
The List was previously installed in cities worldwide without incident but has been vandalised three times since its July 12 installation in Liverpool.
Writing on Twitter, Mayor Anderson condemned the latest desecration of the memorial and said the perpetrators ‘had their brains invaded by hatred’.
He said: “Those responsible for this defacement of a memorial to innocent dead people fleeing for their lives, have had their brains invaded by hatred.
“We will not be beaten by facist thugs and we will pay for another memorial.
“I want volunteers to help me protect it.”