NEW images have been released of a man police want to speak to after buildings in Blackburn were sprayed with ‘Free Palestine’ graffiti.

Buildings targeted last week included Blackburn Magistrates’ Court, the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, the Royal Bank of Scotland and Blackburn Town Hall.

The vandals spelled ‘Palestine’ wrong in their graffiti.

A group of girls initially sought by police, who were believed to have witnessed the incidents, have been traced and assisted detectives with their inquiries.

A new image of man spraying graffiti has now been released.

DS Eric Halford from Blackburn CID said: “We are very keen to trace who was responsible for what we are treating as criminal damage.

“If anybody recognises the man pictured in the CCTV images I would urge them to contact us.

“Similarly, we believe that the man was on foot so if anyone saw a man walking around Blackburn town centre between 9pm and 10pm wearing a black jacket with a hood up and baggy white or cream trousers please get in touch with us.”

The graffiti was removed by Blackburn with Darwen Council a considerable cost.

The vandals were roundly condemned by councillors, Palestine campaigners and Blackburn MP Jack Straw.

Mr Straw said: “This is really stupid and completely counterproductive. What this does is alienate members of the public and cost the borough a lot of money.”

And a spokesman for Drive for Justice, which campaigns about Gaza, said: “We strongly condemn the actions of those who daubed graffiti on the walls of Blackburn Town Hall and other locations in the town centre.”

Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting reference number 0060 of August 20 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.