Police Respond To Graffiti On Buildings
[Updated with video] The Bermuda police are currently on scene at various locations, following the appearance of graffiti with a slogan appearing to reference the international terrorist group ISIS appearing on buildings, including the Cabinet Office.
ISIS [Islamic State of Iraq and Syria] – sometimes referred to as ISIL [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] – has proven responsible for a number of brutal terrorist-related events, most notably a series of beheadings of Western hostages that have been captured on film and distributed via social media.
Further details are limited at this time however we will update as able.
Update 9.50am: Another placement of the graffiti, this time on Reid Street, where the police can also be seen.
Update 10.18am: The police are expected to address this matter later this morning and we will update when that becomes available.
Update 11.18am: The police are beginning a press conference. They said they received five reports of “wilful damage”, with the graffiti placed overnight….all located in Hamilton. They note past incidents of graffiti occurring on the island, and reassured the public they are investigating the matter.
Update 1.11pm: The police are appealing to the community to ”play their part by simply passing on any information that may assist us in identifying the person or persons responsible for these acts of vandalism.”
Any information you have, no matter how insignificant, should be passed on to Inspector Mark Clarke of the Criminal Investigation Unit on 247-1744.
The full statement from Police Superintendent Darrin Simons is below:
The Bermuda Police Service has received five separate reports of willful damage in the City of Hamilton. It appears that an individual or individuals spray painted buildings in the city overnight. As of 11am the affected locations are:
- Rear of Cabinet Building, Reid Street side
- Global House on Church Street
- ‘Chatterbox’ cafe on Reid Street
- Defontes Building on Reid Street
- 129 Front Street
From time to time incidents of this nature occur where individuals use graffiti to write hateful messages. On this occasion, given the global context, the impact of the message may raise anxiety within the community.
The Bermuda Police Service would like to reassure the public that we take this matter seriously and an investigation has commenced.
We are a close knit community and to date neither the information from the public nor or own intelligence systems have raised any particular concerns in this regard.
We are appealing to the community to play their part by simply passing on any information that may assist us in identifying the person or persons responsible for these acts of vandalism. Any information you have, no matter how insignificant, should be passed on to Inspector Mark Clarke of the Criminal Investigation Unit on 247-1744.
Update 2.57pm: The police, earlier today, confirmed five known locations where the graffiti was placed, however it does actually appear to be more than 5.
Issue less work permits.
Idiot.
Probably not worth bothering responding, but did you not pick up on the fact that hundreds if not thousands of people become radicalised in their own country before travelling to Syria? Maybe with your logic all Bermudians should be kicked out?
As I said, idiot.
Hey Tony the Tiger.
How many have been “radicalized in their own country” (Bermuda) before………
Rum all around……
Typical Bermudian logic
Not typical Bermudian anything. Just an ignorant response from and ignorant person. Definitely doesn’t represent the typical Bermudian logic!
I guarantee you this has nothing to do with someone here on a work permit/ 1st/2nd gen Bermudian. Like whats the point of coming to a paradisal rock in the middle of the ocean if you want blow shit up and kill innocent people.
This is a very serious fecking issue, to where as these culprits must be found and interrogated deeply. If by chance they are some type of PR/come from foreign, they need to be immediately deported along with their family. Background checks must be completed. There are cameras all over the city, and they will be found.
If they are found to be minors, they still need to be punished, 2 years juvy or 5 years community service or something.
I do not care if it was joke, these people cut peoples heads off with a kitchen knife, how sickly disturbing. Its an insult to God and Humanity. A message needs to be sent across Bermuda saying that this sh it will not be tolerated.
Personally, I’d ship these feckers on a 1 way trip MAWI or to the middle of the ocean. They know what ISIS is, they know what they do, they know they are a terroristic group. This is an insult not only to Bermudians, but to the Muslim community in Bermuda who live a humble life.
To the parents or guardians, if you know these were you children that did this, I understand you won’t involve the police, but I hope you discipline them and go onto google and show them these beheadings as the videos can be found.
Not even animals are slaughtered this way, and these animals are ate as a natural cycle of life. These people are savages who misinterpret Gods word and will, and use it as an excuse to will their own demons.
If you truly want to help the world, these countries in war, people starving, go join NATO or the UN or red cross or church or something.
THIS IS A SICK JOKE
It is most likely just fools doing vandalisim as a big feck u to the government, police, and community. But still i rather see a big c ock and balls on the wall then seeing isis is comin. This makes me so sickly angry in my stomach.
This was done in mutiple locations, this means that the person/people who did it are trying to get a message across. Were not fecking mind readers, just becaise you right some garbage on a wall doesn’t mean we will understand you or what you are trying to say. You coward. don’t hide behind isis, and say what you want to say, write a letter to the government or a newspaper or something expressing your concern with whatever the situation.
Imagine, if it is real, and these people are in a hole somewhere making homemade bombs, which is very possible to anyone with access to the internet. There is a lot of international business in Bermuda, and these misunderstanding people could possibly get up to something.
People come to Bermuda because is a pardisal safe house, not only do we have to worry about gang violence between our Bermudian brothers and sisters, we now have to worry about terror threats? WTF Bermuda wake up. These people should be captured and taken to a area where sh it is real, then maybe they’ll have a better appreciation for Bermuda. Once you start to walk that road there is no coming back.
To the culprits, im not angry about the vandalism, but ISIS is serious sh it. If you want to vandalize be original and and do something creative at least. “Isis is comin” what, you dumb?
Disagree and offended, typical lack of logic and has as much basis as your post.
But this is not typical Bermudian logic…
It was probably a bunch of kids struck with boredom.
This is home-grown.
Lets hope they are coming to invest all their wealth not blow us up
So you’d happily have their money if it means a buck for Bermuda?! Ad you complain about being perceived as a tax haven!
is that construction spray paint?? lmao talk about ghetto
No camera around these two important buildings, like wow, here, too.why to much to take in, like such a small island, sure you can find out something.
I was just about to post the same sentiments
Oh please, this is a bunch of punk azz kids with “nothin” better to do. Real terrorists probably have better English than these uneducated punks. Besides, do you really think they send a spray painted note before they attack? Smarten up people.
Need to investigate – but my logical guess is that this is some stupid a** being stooopid
I suppose they have run out of ideas how to reduce the national debt already!
Wow this is no laughing matter. Whoever did this needs to be caught and dealt with using the good old fashioned Cat O’ Nine Tails in public!
That sounds like an ISIS punishment…
I thought that was death?
Iran.
the idiot couldnt even spell comming
And yes “Drtbox” is spelled like that on purpose lol
And “coming”, for that matter.
Neither could you.
Neither does it have two ‘m’s LOLOL #LayDown
Lol that made my day tried to correct and still failed
And neither could you spell “coming”, Drtbox.
its only Bermuda slang, just liek your screen name as a matter of fact.
Whoops……….liek = like
Holy crap DRTBOX, your stupidity just made my day! Thanks for the laugh!
U know what it says
I find it disturbing that someone would stoop to this Da’esh nonsense in Bermuda.
I don’t seriously think there’s any actual pro-Da’esh folk in Bermuda, and this is either the work of a mentally unstable individual or some idiot having a laugh in very poor taste.
However, I am concerned about what impact this will have with already existing Islamophobic sentiments amongst some in the community.
On the flipside, don’t want to give whoever did this the attention they’re obviously seeking.
It’s those who think like you who are caught off guard the easiest. Never make assumptions. Police should investigate this matter thoroughly and people need to be ever vigilant in their daily lives. Danger lurks around the corner. #vigilancenotparanoia
First post from Mr. Starling that I have “liked” and agree with. I particularly like his reference to Da’esh, which is what EVERYONE should be calling them, not ISIS. They HATE that name, they like being called ISIS.
Now what is your take on ISIS…I seem to remember you were campaigning over confict in Syria some time ago…wasn’t that the epicentre of ISIS.
I don’t know that much about it, but perhaps you can enlighten us.
In short, I consider Da’esh a death cult and un-Islamic.
The proposal in the past that I opposed was the West allying with Da’esh (and other rebels) to do a Libya in Syria.
The topic of Da’esh is a large one though and perhaps not best discussed in a back and forth thread. Do you have a particular explicit question you would like to ask me concerning Da’esh?
Very sad. Hopefully it was just a bad joke.
Likely so, and someone was just trying to be clever, but it says something that they were able to go right up to Cabinet Office and put graffiti up there. What’s next, the fire station? The police station even?
And the next person may do something even more nefarious.
Sadly, there aren’t any cameras or a security guard. Some of the gates even stay open all night. I would change this ASAP if I were a government official.
I think this person could just be mentally unstable, and is just trying to be some type of profit. Probably someone who should see a head doctor at MAWI or seek help from church.
Someone has too much time on their hands. Who ever sending the warning will be the 1st ones under their beds hiding lol……. lets focus on the real issues on this island!!
Beware. Prepare. You are not immune to the radicalized amongst you.
Doug is absolutely right.
Start to look around you.
Bermuda is not immune.
Is that an in the third person threat ?
Like on vacation?
We read about foreign threats in the news daily and if this is the mindset of someone here then it should be given some serious thought. Who knows what else this person or persons are thinking. Do we have laws on the books to deal with terrorism issues?
you are so right, in some countries thta would be taken as an act of terrorism and should be dealt with as if it was here. I hope they find them and deal with them properly and not just a little smack on the wrist. ISI is a serious thing and not something to be joked about.
Why not send them to US Customs at the airport and shop them there, then they may take making terrorist threats more seriously.
I suspect the people responsible for this have no knowledge of Islam beyond the name ISIS and a few key phrases.
Most probably a Bermudian.
Not sure if you phrased that properly.
Ok. For clarification: this was probably done by a Bermudian with no religious affiliation.
The juxtaposition of your two sentences in the original post would imply that you think the person is Bermudian because they ‘have no knowledge of Islam beyond the name ISIS and a few catch phrases’.
Which to me, and many of my compatriots, reads as you concluding that the person is ignorant and thus a Bermudian. Hence my querying your phrasing and logic. You may not have meant it that way, but understand how it appears.
So you are saying that Bermudians do not anything about Islam? Your accusation is narrow minded. to use your rational which form of Bermudian are you referring to? Born, status or other?
ommitted “know”
Although we are not an island full of brain surgeons, I think I would bet that the majority of the “Bermudian” population know what Islam is.. smh
You’re most probably a moron.
And what is your nationality ???
The written text on various buildings can actually serve as as a reminder, on how blessed we are to live in paradise.
If we really look at the outside world, we are free from many atrocities; genocide, political persecution or brutal class warfare.
We need to enjoy what we have and less on what we want.
I’m sure when the person is caught the magistrate will give him a mild rebuke. That will show him.
I suggest to the Police that they check all the trash cans in the area. They just might find the can and fingerprints. Just a thought.
FFS – can we not leave the race/nationality/colour/religion/lifestyle/sex etc… out of our “arguments” for just a short while… All it says is that you have nothing to say…
So rather – just shut-up…!!
They also sprayed the DPP office door at Global House.
Ok…let’s not call them ISIS. We give them credence when we allow them to label themselves. They are just a bunch of testical-less fools. As for this idiot that spray painted these words, I say he needs to be caught and taught what true terror means – get his mama involved! End this nonsense of a handful of thug-like morons trying to control the world with their violence and hatred. If we show fear in the face of such crap, it feeds them. Let’s just laugh at these idiots because, although they have and still commit hideous atrocities, the more we laugh at them for what they are, the less impact they will have and the stronger we, as a human nation, will be.
Please leave their moma out of this. We all as adults have done some things our parents will not be proud off – If the truth be told
Please stop blaming parents for everything – it is not always the
parents fault – Most parents try their best and most are single parents – children with their mothers but where are their father?
Lets stop judging the parents of the person before you find out the details
Let us all stop this judging of parents and let justice speak.
I do hope you are kidding! Re-read the comment and then explain to me how you think I am blaming the parents?
Just in case you don’t get sarcasm or comedy – I meant that normally folk are scared of their momma because they would get an a** whipping so there is the ‘true terror’. I never once blamed the parents.
You seem to have completely read a different comment to what I originally wrote. Quite funny actually. Or perhaps your comment is dripping in sarcasm.
i care less about their nationality and more about the time, resources and other people’s energy that they’re wasting with this unnecessary bs.
The question is ‘stunned’ is it “wasting with unnecessary bs.”
We never had lion fish before.
Shalom.
if this is a silly childish prank then it is wasting precious time and resources. if not, like the lion fish, this threat needs to be dealt with promptly and seriously.
Lol, if you did this in the US you would already be on the water board by now!
Let them come here…lmao. They wouldn’t leave our shores for sure!
I remeber a TV show back in the 70s with a woman superhero by the name of Isis ! No relation though !
CCTV ??????
looks like whoever wrote this was more concerned about not painting on the doors then what first figuring out what Isis is about. This has to be some of the most door friend graffiti I have ever seen. Isis is coming but not to spray paint any doors.
If they catch the wannabe “ISIS” spray painter let them play with the big boys. Parachute them into the conflict zone and experience what the real hell of the situation is.
Pathetic excuse for attention getting.
The thing is in my weekend camp in the regiment we talked about what if isis attacked bermuda thats crazy
Perhaps if the kids who did this had stayed at home and done their homework, their spelling would improve…
IMO Bermuda needs to take its stand and take a leaf out of the book of the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
You can not play with fire and not expected to get burned at some point.
Nip this in the butt before it gets out of hand.
See below for the statement made by the PM of Australia:
Prime Minister Julia Gillard – Australia
Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.
Separately, Gillard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying she supported spy agencies monitoring the nation’s mosques. Quote: ‘IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT… Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.’
‘This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom.’
‘We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language!’
‘Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.’
‘We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.’
‘This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, ‘THE RIGHT TO LEAVE’.’
‘If you aren’t happy here then LEAVE. We didn’t force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.’
NOTE: IF we circulate this amongst ourselves in UK, Canada & USA, WE will find the courage to start speaking and voicing the same truths.
If you agree please SEND THIS ON and ON, to as many people as you know…
—
I wonder what the Aboriginals of Australia would think about the above statment, especially people that have been playing with fire for hundreds of years with the original peoples of various nations taking their land through force! Where is the justice for the children of God described in the Bible as Israelites who would be scattered throughtout the four corners of the earth and would be sold to their enemies as slaves? (Deuteronomy 28:68) Which group of people in the earth have been suffering the wrath of their God through the disobedience ,first of their ancestors( who history was hidden from present generations) and continuing because of the stiff neck people (Deuteronomy 29:21-29) spoken about in the Bible… These people are real no matter how much they are despised and rejected they are as real as any of The Most Highs creation and the reason for the signs of the times.Lets look at the real situation not what we are just told..
this excerpt was taken from website: Hoax Slayer:
“…However, the quoted words were not uttered by Julia Gillard and were circulating in various forms years before she supposedly said them. In fact, the words were originally intended for an American audience and were part of a longer piece penned by Barry Loudermilk, a US Air Force veteran and columnist for a local newspaper in the American state of Georgia. Loudermilk wrote the article as a means of expressing his personal views on patriotism and immigration in post-9/11 America.
The article struck a chord with many readers in the US and elsewhere and it soon spread far and wide via email and other means. At some point, versions adapted to Australia, the UK, and elsewhere began circulating.
The bottom line? Gillard never made the remarks attributed to her in this message. Neither did Rudd. And, despite some elements of truth in the original version, Howard never said the quoted words either. Sending on false and misleading information such as this will help nobody.”
notwithstanding the above, i wish some leaders would have the fortitude and courage to say these things.
Gosh… at least get the correct spelling!
I’ll bet you it was someone who was recently released from either MAWI or Westgate
Also could be a PRC – Permanent Resident Chicken fighting back!
construction paint & security cams? I’m putting my money on a dumb local (yes I’m local)
ISIS is comin?
Good. We need some buckets of ice on Rabbit Island for our Dark & Stormies.
These paint shops must have cameras, can police go and watch these cameras to see who bought spray paint in the past couple of days?
This isn’t something to just push aside, ISIS is recruiting people all around the world. Bermuda is too small to be dealing with something like this.
If this was a prank by some idiots, and if they are caught, perhaps they might be forced to speak to the families of those beheaded by ISIS and then ask themselves if their behaviour was in any way ‘cool’ or amusing or politically meaningful or appropriate… Or if it was simply disrepectful to a level of suffering the likes of which they should pray never to experience themselves.
@Paul, I think you are being to nice??? I say when apprehended and proven guilty, hand them over directly to ISIS/ISYL and if they live after that, which I doubt??? They will learn a valuable lesson in life!!!! Scumbags is the only term they are worthy of being referred as!!!!
Probably some pathetic bermudian craving attention from the media
Oh NOE bie… juss wen deeengs was lookin up!
Yes Pat.. I’d like to buy a ‘g’.
Just curious and not to scaremonger, but does Bermuda have any anti-terrorism laws? If this person is found and charged it is possible they could be charged with any terrorism offences in addition to criminal damage offences?
They don’t know that Bermudans are not easily controlled nor are Bermudans easily scared. Bermudans don’t even fear the Queen.
The only thing Bermudans really fear is the Americans.
Seriously people this isn’t a laughing matter hasnt anyone watch cnn or any new station lately
whoever needs to be caught and questioned
Yes, there are laws against terrorist acts on the books. I say we reach out to our American friends for help, find this gutless coward or cowards and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. Maybe then those and other idiots in the community will learn that terrorism, and in particular ISIS, is no joking matter.
And why on Earth is there no CCTV around the Cabinet Office?! There are small businesses with more secure premises than the seat of our government!
Think about it… We are hosting the Americas cup? In 2017 which is ‘comin’ up . I’m actually worried.
I honestly didn’t even consider this. GOod point, although can also be over-looked at as nothing. All-in-all it’s disrespectful, period.
Keep close attention!
JW’s
I am happy to donate towards a one way ticket to Syria for the perpetrators when/if they are caught.
.am says:
February 26, 2015
I suspect the people responsible for this have no knowledge of Islam beyond the name ISIS and a few key phrases.
Most probably a Bermudian.
How long have you been waiting to post that heh heh I wonder if you are as candid with your bermudian friends in person as you are on the keyboard.
Lmaao…hilarious lol
Well most western countries have become concern about their nationals leaving to join the Islamic call for jihad in the name of the so-called Islamic state. Passports have been taken away and some government have put in laws to take away citizenship of their nationals that have been found to have gone to those conflict areas and have return. But I remember clearly in the aftermath of the end of Portuguese colonial rule in Angola and the civil war which broke out there which involved the than apartheid state of South Africa invading southern Angola and Cuban military intervention on the side of the liberation movement that took over. One of the aspects of that conflict was the use of mercenaries from western countries who could be seen travelling through western airports including Britain on their way to that conflict. In the end they should have stayed home many came to grief and a few were executed for war crimes in the midst of loud protests from their countries of origin; but the point is no one stop them from leaving the country in the first place and they were allowed to return to return without sanction. I am not making case for this latest conflict involving the so-called Islamic state in whose name my ancestral home land is been attacked;Nigeria comes to mind as to other countries in Africa so it’s quite clear which side I am going to support. But still it is an interesting perspective when we see events unfolding today.
BTW it’s everyone’s ancestral homeland, whites, blacks, whatever color/race, etc since we all came from Africa
Look for teenagers who can’t spell. Comin….. really? If they catch them I hope they throw them in jail – that’s a terrorist threat so there doesn’t even have to be a court hearing. Stupid illiterate scare mongers!!!!
Maybe they couldn’t spell ‘um um ‘
Eh eh.no bye
Didn’t you ever think about the security cams Jesus if u don’t have any at a government building you got some issues and in my opinion the police should have been smart and looked at footage around the streets to see if they can find the guy
In’it
This is no joke! The perpetrators need to be taught a lesson.
Well we have the regiment don’t we…
I think what the Graffiti artist is trying say is Bermudians are obsess with politics and money when there is stuff going on around this little island that may soon effect us. So wake up..
I disagree I think they are ignorant fools desperate for recognition and their butts should be nailed to the wall when they are found…idiots…
Definitely someone who appreciates cedar,, since they were so careful to avoid the door!
Putting my bet on a Bermudian who knows what’s involved in keeping that finish lookin good.
Really! Lmao guarding spray paint? Some of u on here are (special)
I remember post 9/11, some staff at a certain place put up pictures/posters of Bin Laden in various staff only areas – management took them down on more than one occasion. No idea who did this, but there are quite a few work permit workers here about whose backgrounds we are clueless.
w0w…the comments scare me more than the graffiti…i’m not gonna touch this one, research who is funding these ever name changing radical organizations…hope you dig deep too before the onslaught of the Net Neutrality is in place…goodbye truth.
Their spelling skills remind me of the qlq artists at Mid-Ocean.
Banksy they are not.
As an American living in this great country. I have been able to get to know a number of Muslims here. I have learned ISIS and these radicals do not represent the true Muslim people. But I must admit to looking over my shoulder and wondering could this hate come here. All i ask is to be judged by my actions not where I come from or what God I pray to. As I’m sure you do. As i said before I am grateful for have the chance to get to know the real Muslim people here in Bermuda.
This makes me wonder can this come here? These radicals hate all Christians as well should they be looking over there shoulders too?
Is Isis really in Bermuda?!?! Because their have been stories about Isis stealing a little boy.