People in Torbay are being asked to remember genocide victims as the world marks Holocaust Memorial Day on Saturday.

Holocaust Memorial Day is held each year on 27 January to remember the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust, under Nazi persecution, and in the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.

January 27 marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.

The Holocaust Memorial Trust organises the day each year and has chosen Fragility of Freedom as this year’s theme.

The Civic Mayor of Torbay, Councillor Mark Spacagna, will be attending the Holocaust Memorial Service at Oldway Memorial Gardens on Friday 26 January.

Councillor Spacagna said: “It’s important to have this day set aside to remember Holocaust victims and victims of subsequent genocides. We as a council are proud to mark this day and raise awareness so that people realise how important freedom is.

“We often take our freedoms for granted but we must remember that for many people throughout the world, freedom is under constant threat.”

The Torquay seafront festoon lights will be turned purple on 27 January to mark the day.