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Swastika Found At Haverford Tennis Court, Officials Seek Answers

HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) -- Word that a swastika had been drawn on a Haverford Township tennis court, nearly two weeks ago, was mostly kept under wraps. That was until, late last week.

A spokeswoman for the Haverford School District says they're leaving the investigation up to police, but tells Eyewitness News they don't believe a Haverford student was involved. The symbol had been written with chalk and the school was able to erase it.

Students say the tennis courts, used by both the middle school and high school, were resurfaced.

"To me, it could be somebody messing around, but if it is someone trying to do that, then they should be punished for it probably," said Steve Kelly, a Haverford High School senior.

This is the second time in as many weeks that the symbol has resurfaced in the Delaware County township. Haverford Township Police confirmed that their investigation remains active in both incidents, including a report from last month where a swastika was painted on a homeowner's trash can.

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That incident drew international attention when the swastika was transformed into artwork.

"Any one instance of a swastika, or any other hate symbol, is one too many," said the regional director at the Philadelphia Anti-Defamation League, Nancy Baron-Baer. She told Eyewitness News that her office has been in contact with school and township officials.

Baron-Baer cautioned against jumping to the conclusion that the second swastika could simply be the work of a copy cat.

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