The two monuments were targeted in London as police forces across the country dealt with a spate of ugly attacks fuelled by hatred after soldier Lee Rigby’s murder.
The newly erected tribute to the bomber pilots of World War II was one of two central London war memorials defaced by vandals on Monday. The other was the Animals in War memorial.
The clean-up begins: A contractor removes Islam
graffiti which was daubed on a memorials to members of RAF Bomber
Command after a spate of ugly attacks in the wake of soldier Lee Rigby's
murder
The newly erected tribute to the bomber pilots
of World War II was one of two central war memorials defaced by vandals
on Monday who scrawled the word 'Islam' on both
Making good: At the Bomber Command monument, two
contractors worked for over an hour removing the metre-high bright red
letters spelling 'Islam'
On guard: Police officers stand next the graffiti which was covered up before being cleaned off
At the Bomber Command monument, two contractors worked for over an hour removing the metre high bright red letters spelling 'Islam', which were scrawled underneath the Bomber Command’s crest, which reads 'Bomber Command Royal Airforce, Strike Hard Strike Sure.'
The graffiti comes in the wake of the murder of soldier Lee Rigby.
Head of facilities at the RAF Benevolent Fund Gary Ross said the organisation was saddened by the vandalism, especially given the charity now had to pay for its removal.
Disgraceful: A council worker removes the word
'Islam' from the Animals In War memorial in London's Park Lane after it
was attacked by vandals
No respect: The vandals also sprayed paint over a poignant message giving details about the monument
'We are obviously very upset by
anybody defacing what is a piece of history now. We have had calls
through from veterans about it, obviously they’re very disturbed by the
whole situation and now we have to pay for its removal,' Mr Ross said.'We are the RAFs leading welfare charity, supporting serving and ex-service personal.
'We provide things like wheelchairs and motor scooters, we help with cost of living for service and ex service personal going through hard times, respite care, even helping with housing.
'It’s taking money away from a charity which in this economic climate we could do without but it’s our responsibility to keep the memorial in good order.'
In London, hundreds of police in riot gear fought to calm a volatile clash between the English Defence :League and anti-fascists yesterday.
Tourists looked on in horror as hundreds of shaven-headed men carrying St George’s Cross flags chanted 'there’s only one Lee Rigby'.
Investigation: Police are yet to make arrests
over the vandalism which came in the wake of the murder of soldier Lee
Rigby in Woolwich
Message: This image shows the word 'Islam'
daubed on the Animals In War Memorial, but police are not sure if it was
carried out by Muslim protesters or far-right groups trying to stir up
trouble
Meanwhile, two men have been remanded in custody to appear before a crown court judge after a mosque was petrol-bombed, court officials said today.
Grimsby Islamic Cultural Centre was attacked for the second time in three days on Sunday while a young family was inside.
Stuart Harness, 33, and Gavin Humphries, 37, both of Grimsby, were arrested in connection with the incident and appeared at the town’s magistrates’ court today.
They are charged with arson with intent to endanger life and were denied bail, a magistrates’ court official said.
No pleas were entered and the case will be sent to Grimsby Crown Court where it will be heard on June 7, the court official added.
The petrol-bombing was the second time the centre on Weelsby Road has been targeted since Drummer Lee Rigby was killed in Woolwich last week.
Eleven teenagers, aged 16 and 17, were arrested after a party spiralled out of control on Thursday.
Chief superintendent Tony Forbes, of Humberside Police, said: 'It is important to remember that those people who have committed these offences are a very small minority and they do not reflect the vast majority of people who live in North East Lincolnshire.'
Mourners brave the rain to leave yet more tributes at scene of Drummer Rigby's death
In stark contrast to the violence and vandalism that has dogged the country in recent days, dozens of strangers continued to leave floral tributes and poignant messages to Lee Rigby today.
Members of the public braved the rain to add to the growing pile of flowers, teddy bears, poems left at the scene where the father-of-one was hacked to death in Woolwich last week.
Many of the tributes came from veterans, fellow servicemen and women and their families.
Paying their respects: A young family looks at some of the flowers and messages left at the scene where Lee Rigby was killed
A woman holds an umbrella while looking at the ever-growing pile of tributes left to the murdered soldier
Grief: Mourners leave floral tributes at the memorial to Drummer Rigby near Woolwich Barracks
Emotional: Many of the tributes came from veterans, fellow servicemen and women and their families
The service, led by the Sedgefield Veterans, took place outside St Edmunds Church where a flag was lowered to half mast.
The group holds a service for every serving solider who dies on duty.
Over the Bank Holiday weekend, Drummer Rigby's widow made a tearful pilgrimage to the scene of his death the day after his fiancee made the same heartbreaking trip.
Rebecca Rigby, the mother of the soldier’s two-year-old son Jack, laid a wreath amid hundreds of other floral tributes to her estranged husband.
She wrote on the card: ‘My hero, my soldier, my one true love. Until we meet again my angel I know you’ll be watching over me and Jack. Love always xxx.’
Tribute: A memorial service is held in Sedgefield, County Durham, for murdered soldier Lee Rigby
The Sedgefield Veterans for every serving solider who dies on duty, with today's service passing over 250 since 2009
Mrs Rigby, 30, sobbed and cradled a pink Peppa Pig soft toy as she pinned a balloon with the words ‘Dad in a million’ close to the spot in Woolwich where 25-year-old Drummer Rigby was butchered by two Islamic fanatics on Wednesday.
Drummer Rigby had survived Taliban bombs and bullets during a tour of duty as a machine gunner in Afghanistan, only to be slaughtered on the streets of London.
It is understood that he had separated from his wife, and started a relationship with army colleague Aimee West.
Miss West, 22, was flown back from Helmand where she was serving with the Royal Military Police.
On Saturday, she wept as she set down a bouquet of roses at the scene of his murder.
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