Graffiti artists who painted racist slogans on a number of walls in Londonderry were today condemned.

Sinn Fein Assembly member Martina Anderson said she was shocked to learn that Ku Klux Klan (KKK) slogans and swastikas have been painted on walls along Foyle Road — near the Foyle Valley railway station — and around the Glenfada Park area of the cityside.

The party’s spokeswoman on equality and human rights, Ms Anderson has called for the immediate removal of the racist slogans and symbols after they appeared on walls over the weekend.

Ms Anderson said she was “shocked”, adding: “This graffiti needs to be removed immediately. It has no place in our city or society.

“While progress has been made in recent years, sectarianism, racism and intolerance are still too evident. They mar our reputation, blight our economic prospects and have a corrosive effect on our society.

“There is clearly a huge job of work to be done if we are to successfully challenge many of the negative attitudes which exist to difference and diversity in our society, which go far beyond graffiti.”