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Hundreds of people have gathered at a memorial garden to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. 

The service in recognition of Holocaust Memorial Day was led by Redbridge mayor cllr Ashley Kissin and council leader cllr Jas Athwal at Valentines Park in Ilford this morning. 

This year's theme 'Keep the Memory Alive' saw people from all faith backgrounds gather at the Holocaust Memorial Garden as they remembered all victims' of Nazi persecution during the Second World War. 

This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica which claimed the lives of 8,000 Bosniaks. 

Mr Athwal paid his respects to those affected by genocide and those killed at the German concentration camps before it was liberated by the Soviet Union on January 27 1945.

He called for faith groups across the borough to unite. 

Mayor Kissin read the Kaddish in Hebrew and Clayhall ward councillor Alan Weinberg read the same text in English.

Cllr Kissin, said: "This day provides a mark of respect for the victims of the Nazi prosecution and of all genocides and those who still suffer the consequences.

"By supporting Holocaust Memorial Day we show our continuing commitment to keeping the memory alive, opposing racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia and discrimination in all its forms."

Wreaths were laid and candles were lit by councillors, leaders of faith groups,  local residents and schoolchildren. 

The council have held a ceremony to mark Holocaust Memory Day since 2000.