More than 30 Police officers were tasked with investigating a spate of graffiti vandalism that involved the word “Isis” being scrawled across buildings in Hamilton.

Vandals painted on Government buildings, cafes and broadcasting offices, using references to Isis, the extremist Islamist group.

Superintendent Darrin Simons said yesterday that officers were trawling through CCTV footage to identify those responsible for writing the messages.

Police later confirmed there were “in excess of 34 officers responding to these reports, providing scene security, following up reports, collating/collecting evidence”.

The messages, which were painted in orange, ranged from “Isis is coming” to “Isis is coming, watch out”.

Isis, whose acronym stands for Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, controls territory in those countries and is responsible for the murders of civilians, journalists and aid workers.

Supt Simons said that the Bermuda Police Service was taking the vandalism very seriously.

“We are investigating five separate reports of willful damage in the city that occurred overnight,” he said.

“These incidents took place at the rear of the Cabinet building, Global House, Chatterbox cafe, the Defontes building and 129 Front Street.

“From time to time, incidents of this nature occur when individuals write hateful messages.

“On this occasion, given the global climate, it may raise anxiety in the community.

“We want to reassure the public that we are taking this matter seriously and an investigation has commenced.”

• Anyone with any information about the spate of graffiti incidents should contact Detective Inspector Mark Clarke on 247-1744 or the confidential Crime Stoppers hotline on 800-8477.