ABOUT 20 Muslim graves at High Wycombe Cemetery were vandalised this week - prompting a police investigation and an outcry from community leaders.

Investigators were at the top of the Hampden Road cemetery taking fingerprints yesterday, within the section for Muslim burials.

Officers said several headstones have been pushed over and grave ornaments have been thrown around the plots.

The vandals did the damage on Wednesday night and it was discovered by cemetery staff on Thursday morning.

Wycombe superintendent Gilbert Houalla said: “It appears that the vandals have specifically desecrated Muslim graves and I am at a loss as to what was going through the minds of those involved.”

Taxi driver Ali Ashiq, 55, was at the cemetery yesterday and told the Bucks Free Press his mother's grave was one of those vandalised.

He said: “I was absolutely shocked when I heard. I think this is anti-Islam activity and it's not the first time it's happened.”

He called on Wycombe District Council to step up security at the cemetery, saying higher fences and CCTV cameras would prevent further damage being done.

A woman at the cemetery who asked not to be named, said: “The vandals have obviously taken their time to destroy these graves, it's absolutely appalling.”

Wycombe councillors Mahboob Hussain and Mohammed Rafiq yesterday backed calls for CCTV cameras to be installed, pointing out a similar incident happened about six years ago.

Cllr Hussain said: “One can only condemn the people responsible for this. There is a lot of strong feeling in the community and this is going to create some tension.

“I'm very proud of the race relations we have in High Wycombe but things like this don't help.”

Reverend David Picken, of All Saints Church in High Wycombe, said: “This is very disturbing news and we stand in solidarity with our friends from the Muslim community at this time.”

Thames Valley Police are appealing for witnesses. Supt Houalla said: “I am disgusted that these people could be so thoughtless and cowardly...

“The families who visit and attend the graves are distraught that something like this could happen and I would like to appeal directly to those responsible to think about what they have done and come forward.”

“This is not only an attack on the Muslim community but is an attack on us all. We must now all work together to find whoever has done this.”

He said the vandalism took place between 9pm on Wednesday and 8am on Thursday. Officers pledged to do all they can to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

Council spokesman Catherine Spalton said the cost and practicalities of installing CCTV cameras at High Wycombe Cemetery have been looked at before.

She added: "Unfortunately the size of the site, combined with the need for special night vision CCTV cameras - because there is no street lighting at the site - means that this would not be viable.

"In addition, to secure the whole site with boundary fencing, gates and walls high enough to prevent access would not only be expensive, but would also look unsightly in the surroundings. It is worth noting, however, that the cemetery is locked every night and the police regularly patrol the area."

Anyone with any information can contact the police via 0845 8 505 505, or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.