Islamophobic graffiti was sprayed on a house belonging to a Sri Lankan Hindu family who were planning to move into the Speke area of Liverpool.
The racist messages included “Allar Akbar” and “pak*” smeared in black paint all over the front of the terraced house.
Allahu Akbar means “Allah is great” an Arabic, which is recited in every Muslim prayer.
It is believed the yobs vandalised the house late on Sunday night or in the early hours of Monday morning.
The house is currently unoccupied but a Sri Lankan Hindu family are about to move in from London.
The family-of-five will be joining other members of their family who have been living in Speke since 2015.
The graffiti was whitewashed on Monday while both the upstairs and downstairs windows, which were smashed, were boarded up.
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The owner of the house, who wanted to remain anonymous, told the Liverpool Echo: “We have been getting the house ready so I can move in with my family.
“I have been living in London for 11 years and we are moving here to join my brother.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before.
“We are not even Muslims, we are Hindus, and we hate the terrorists also.
“I am very upset and scared now. I have a wife and three young children but we are still going to move in.”
He added that neighbours had been bringing gifts after the graffiti was discovered.
Merseyside Police confirmed that it was investigating “an incident of hate crime” in Speke after the house was daubed with offensive graffiti and the windows were smashed.
Detective Inspector Debbie Tipton said: “We will not tolerate hate crimes being committed against members of our community and everything possible is being done to investigate this incident.
“The house that was targeted has just been bought by a Sri Lankan family who already have family living in the area and this incident has occurred before they have even had a chance to move in.
“We believe the house was probably targeted some time after 10pm last night and the offenders have smashed the windows in the house and daubed offensive graffiti all over the front of the property – it’s sickening to think that people think that this kind of behaviour is acceptable and they think they can treat other members of the community in this appalling way.
“I would appeal to local residents who may have information which could help us find those responsible to come forward.
“Everyone has the right to live peacefully within their community and to go about their daily lives without harassment from others just because they are perceived to be different. We will take the strongest possible action against those who behaved in this unacceptable way.”
Anyone who has information which could help the police with their inquiries is asked to contact detectives on 0151 777 4086 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
