South Yorkshire Police are investigating two pro-Palestine protesters who removed the Israeli flag from Sheffield Town Hall last month. 

Officers are treating the act of protest as a “racially aggravated public order offence” and a hate crime.

Last month, a video emerged on social media of the two men, who replaced the Israeli flag flying above Sheffield Town Hall with a Palestinian one, to a crowd of cheering protestors.

Officers have now released CCTV images of the two protestors, asking the public for information regarding their identities.

Reports emerged that the two protestors destroyed the Israeli flag, but were dispelled by a council spokesperson, who said that the flag had been “handed back to officials”.

Council leader, Tom Hunt, said: “Everyone has the right to safe and peaceful protest but we cannot support the events that took place during the protest outside Sheffield’s town hall.

“There are strong feelings about the situation in Israel and Palestine but we ask everyone to show respect and tolerance at this time. Our thoughts are with all those affected, including here in the UK.”