Belfast: A 19-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a disruptive incident targeting a Pride parade in Northern Ireland. The suspect is accused of dumping dung along streets in Ballymena and in front of shops in Antrim Town early Saturday morning, just hours before the scheduled Pride event.
The incident occurred around 5 a.m. and was discovered by local shopkeepers upon opening their stores on Greenvale Street and near the Ballymoney Town Centre Shopping Centre—an area recently affected by episodes of communal unrest. The affected areas were promptly cleaned following reports made to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
PSNI has confirmed that the incident is being investigated as a hate crime. The suspect is due to appear in court on Monday.
The act drew strong condemnation from political leaders and the public. Foreign Minister Simon Harris described it as “a despicable act”, while SDLP councillor Denise Johnston expressed her disgust at the perpetrators, warning that those responsible would be identified via CCTV footage. Alliance Party leader Naomi Long also strongly denounced the incident.
Curtis Lee, the event organiser, reiterated the need for solidarity and resilience in the face of such acts of hate. The incident follows recent unrest in Ballymena, where three nights of rioting earlier this month resulted in injuries to over 40 police officers.
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