Almost 50 Catholic and Protestant graves were deliberately damaged in Derry's City Cemetery at the weekend. The damage to the headstones was discovered yesterday by people visiting the cemetery, which is between the Creggan and Brandywell areas.
Many of the damaged headstones date back to when the cemetery opened in the 1850s, and several of the damaged graves are those of first World War and second World War servicemen.
Local SDLP councillor Mr Jim Clifford, who lives in the Creggan, said anyone with information about the incident should contact the police.
"This is an absolute disgrace. A cemetery is supposed to be sacred and consecrated ground, but sadly some people have seen fit to damage consecrated ground. This attack on these graves has caused great upset to a lot of people whose loved ones are buried in the City Cemetery."
A PSNI spokesman said the number of damaged headstones was "over 30 and still counting". The damaged memorials included both Catholic and Protestant graves.