A man was arrested in Prestwich last night after several reports of racially aggravated criminal damage near premises displaying a Palestinian flag.

Officers had received numerous reports of cars being damaged with spray paint around the Windsor Road area.

Yesterday evening, the Bury South Neighbourhood Team arrested a man in his 60s.

Police patrols in the Windsor Road area will continue and officers say they will fully investigate and take action on anyone looking to ‘undermine the community cohesion that we enjoy.’

They believe the offender had been targeting premises displaying the Palestinian flag and that the criminal damage is hate-motivated.

He is in police custody awaiting an interview and an investigation is still ongoing.

Sergeant Chris Allanson, of Bury South Police, said: “We would like to reassure the whole community that police are still patrolling the area on Operation Wildflower.

“That is the policing response to community tensions in relation to the Israel/Gaza conflict and any and all hate crime will be fully investigated and action will be taken on any suspects who would undermine the community cohesion that we enjoy.”