Police are investigating after a vandal daubed paint on the York city walls and an ancient church.
Red paint symbols have been daubed on a stretch of York walls over the weekend.
And the doorway of St Olave’s Church on Marygate is covered in the hieroglyphics.
Police have been contacted and are investigating.
The daubings have been spotted elsewhere in the city, including the Scarborough Bridge underpass.
Fears have been raised that it’s a hate crime, as the church doorway and bridge graffiti both include 88 – a well-known code for Heil Hitler among far right groups.
Cllr Darryl Smalley, executive member for culture, leisure and communities at City of York Council, said on Twitter: “Like many others, I’ve reported this to the council.
“I’ll make enquiries as to whether a criminal investigation would be appropriate – agree 100% its unacceptable vandalism.”
St Olave’s Church is a Grade I listed parish church. It was dedicated to the patron saint of Norway, St Olaf, in 1055.
After the Norman Conquest of 1066 St Olave’s became the church of the Benedictine order in York.
The shape of the present St Olave’s really dates from 1446 when major rebuilding took place.