Five Men Arrested Over Mosque Replica Placed on Loyalist Bonfire in Dungannon

The PSNI arrested five men over a loyalist bonfire in Co Tyrone where a mosque replica and anti-Islam signs were placed. All five remain in custody.

Five arrests in PSNI probe of Co Tyrone hate bonfire

The PSNI has arrested five men in connection with an ongoing investigation into a loyalist bonfire in Moygashel, on the outskirts of Dungannon, Co Tyrone, RTÉ News reports.

The bonfire, lit in July, had a replica of a mosque placed upon it, alongside signs bearing the slogans "secure our borders" and "end the threat of radical Islam" — prompting widespread condemnation.

Three men, aged 27, 38, and 51, were arrested by detectives in mid-Ulster on Monday morning. Two further men, aged 58 and 74, were detained later that afternoon.

District Commander Superintendent Peter Stevenson confirmed all five were arrested on suspicion of offences under the Public Order Act.

A PSNI spokesperson said all five remained in custody and noted that "the investigation into the placing of the offensive materials onto the bonfire continues."

One additional man had been arrested in the same investigation in July and has since appeared in court.

The Moygashel site has been the focus of police attention before. Last year, a loyalist bonfire at the same location was topped with an effigy depicting migrants in a boat, an incident which the PSNI investigated as a hate incident.

Source: RTÉ News