A man has been charged following the placement of a replica mosque atop a loyalist bonfire pyre in Northern Ireland.
The model was clearly visible on top of the structure in Moygashel,Co Tyrone on Thursday.
Placards reading “Secure our borders” and “End the threat of radical Islam” were also positioned on the fire which had been scheduled to be ignited on Friday night.
Nevertheless, according to the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the bonfire was set ablaze on Thursday evening, thereby rendering the operation to remove the hate display ‘complex’.
A spokesperson for the force stated: “Had the bonfire not been lit police would have secured the site and removed the offending material and seized it as evidence.”
“The Police Service of Northern Ireland’s investigation into this hate motivated crime is ongoing.”
A 56 year old man has been charged with incitement to hatred and will appear at court on Friday, July 10.
Chief Superintendent Norman Haslett added: “Hate crime has no place in our society and will not be tolerated.
“That is why tonight we commenced a proactive policing operation to take action and remove the hate display from Moygashel Bonfire. In advance of police arrival the bonfire was set alight a day in advance to prevent removal of the criminal material.
“Where there is evidence that offences have been committed, we will take robust action.
“As part of our ongoing investigation, a 56-year-old man has been charged with incitement to hatred. He is due to appear before Dungannon Magistrates’ Court on Friday 10 July. As is normal procedure, all charges are reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.”
Amnesty International condemned it as a “vile display” and a “blatant attempt to stir up anti-Muslim hatred and intimidate local families”.
The same bonfire has sparked controversy in previous years. Last year saw widespread condemnation after effigies of migrants in a boat were set alight on the Moygashel fire.
Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland director, said: “The placing of an effigy of a mosque on top of a bonfire amounts to incitement to hatred directed at real people who live, work and raise families in Northern Ireland.
“It is a crime under Northern Ireland law to distribute materials that are intended or likely to stir up racial or religious hatred or arouse fear.
“The police must investigate this as a potential crime, identify and hold to account those responsible, and ensure this material is swiftly removed before it can be used to incite further hatred and violence.”
Eleventh night bonfires are set to be lit across Northern Ireland on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings ahead of the Orange Order’s July 12 parades on Monday. While the majority of these bonfires proceed without incident, a number have become flashpoints for controversy, with flags, effigies and election posters placed upon the pyres prior to ignition.