Three men are being hunted after they were filmed vandalisinga memorial plaque for race murder victim Stephen Lawrence.The trio, with T-shirts covering their faces, were caught on CCTV pouring a substance over the pavement plaque.
Cctv operators immediately alerted the police but the men ran off before officers got there in the early hours of Monday.
Police were unable to confirm reports that the substance was petrol but were carrying out forensic tests on it.
The memorial is at the spot in Eltham, South East London, where 18-year-old student Stephen died in April 1993.
Sixth former Stephen had been walking with a friend to a bus stop when they were attacked by a gang of six white youths shouting racist abuse.
Stephen was stabbed to death.
Five men were arrested but no one has ever been convicted.
Stephen's death led to the Macpherson Inquiry declaring the Metropolitan Police to be "institutionally racist" following their bungled handling of the investigation into his murder.
Yesterday Scotland Yard appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward to the police.
Investigating officer Det Con Nic Sargant said: "We would like to hear from anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the Well Hall Road area of Eltham on Monday morning."
A 19-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident and was released on bail until September pending further police inquiries.
Anyone with information about the plaque vandalism should call Det Con Sargant on 020 8853 1212.
This is the latest in a string of attacks on the memorial.
In March 1998, shortly before the start of a public inquiry into the murder, vandals chipped and poured paint on the plaque. The same happened the following year, despite 24-hour camera surveillance.
And in 2008, yobs attacked the Stephen Lawrence Centre by smashing windows, worth £120,000, with bricks.
The £10million centre in Deptford, South East London, centre promotes architecture, which Stephen had planned to pursue as a career.
The cost of the Stephen Lawrence Centre in Deptford, South East London, the education facility built in memory of the murdered teenager
The Mirror
