The criminal damage, discovered by a grieving family during a visit to the site, has caused profound shock and distress across the local Muslim community, Hertfordshire Police said.

Extra patrols are being conducted in the area, and police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward, Anadolu Agency reported.

Inspector Will Rogers-Overy confirmed that senior officers are working with community leaders to support affected families.

“In the coming days, we will engage further with the Muslim community, who will have been particularly impacted by this horrendous crime,” he said.

Wadi Funeralcare, which serves many Muslim families in the region, described the desecration as “heartbreaking” and said some of the graves were subjected to “unspeakable acts of disrespect.”

Carpenders Park Lawn Cemetery, while located in Watford, is owned and operated by Brent Council.

Abbas Merali, a Conservative councillor from Three Rivers District Council, called the vandalism “a barbaric act” and said it has caused “immense anguish to grieving families and profound hurt across our community.”

Condemning the incident as a potential act of Islamophobic hatred, Council leader Muhammed Butt said, “It looks as though Muslim graves have been targeted in what appears to be an Islamophobic hate crime.”

“Our thoughts are with the families of those whose graves were desecrated. We will reinstate the damaged name plaques and restore the cemetery to a place of peace and remembrance as soon as the police investigation is complete.”