A model depicting refugees in a boat was set ablaze on a bonfire in Moygashel, a pro-British town near Belfast, sparking widespread condemnation from across Northern Ireland’s political spectrum.
The incident occurred Thursday night, just weeks after attacks on homes believed to house migrants in the region.
Police have launched an investigation, treating the act as a potential hate crime.
The display featured eight figures wearing life jackets in a model boat, placed on top of a massive bonfire built from more than 50 wooden pallets. Alongside the boat were banners reading "Stop the Boats" and "Veterans before Refugees," and an Irish flag.
The bonfire was part of annual 11 July celebrations in Protestant loyalist areas, held on the eve of commemorations for King William of Orange’s 1690 victory at the Battle of the Boyne. Bonfires and parades marking the occasion have historically sparked unrest, even after the 1998 Good Friday Agreement brought relative peace to Northern Ireland.
Footage shared online showed a large crowd watching the bonfire being lit, accompanied by fireworks and music from a pipe band.
Sinn Féin lawmaker Colm Gildernew condemned the act as "deplorable" and accused it of inciting hatred.
Ulster Unionist Party leader and current health minister Mike Nesbitt also criticised the display, saying it was “sickening, deplorable and entirely out of step with what is supposed to be a cultural celebration.”
Both had previously urged for the effigies to be removed before the fire.
The incident follows recent unrest in Ballymena, where masked individuals attacked police, and set homes and vehicles ablaze, raising further concerns about growing tensions surrounding immigration and cultural expressions.
The United States Embassy in Tashkent has confirmed that the issuance of Diversity Visas (DV) commonly referred to as Green Card visas has been suspen...
Afghanistan is expected to remain one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises in 2026, with nearly half of the population projected to require hu...
The Russian radio station known as 'Doomsday Radio' (or UVB-76) unexpectedly began playing ‘Swan Lake’, music from a ballet composition. The last ...
India’s largest oil refiner, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), has taken a significant step towards diversifying its crude oil supply by purchasing Colo...
Türkiye will never tolerate coercion, piracy, or banditry in its maritime “blue homeland,” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday....
A tragic train collision near Machu Picchu, one of Peru's most iconic tourist destinations, has resulted in the death of a train driver and left at least 40 others injured. The incident occurred on Tuesday, when two trains collided head-on on the railway that leads to the ancient Inca citadel, which
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 31st of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Russia launched an overnight drone attack on Ukraine’s Odesa region, damaging residential buildings and infrastructure, and injuring four people, including three children, according to regional authorities on Wednesday.
Thailand released 18 Cambodian soldiers on Wednesday, ending their 155-day detention. This comes after a ceasefire agreement between the two countries halted 20 days of fighting that killed over 100 people and displaced more than half a million. The soldiers were handed over at a border checkpoint.
Protests in Iran over soaring prices and a plunging rial have spread to universities in Tehran, as students join shopkeepers and bazaar merchants in demanding government action. With inflation above 42% and the rial at record lows, unrest continues to grow across the country.
The Russian radio station known as 'Doomsday Radio' (or UVB-76) unexpectedly began playing ‘Swan Lake’, music from a ballet composition. The last time this was done was during the deaths of Soviet-era leaders and the 1991 coup.
As Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, rising casualties, economic struggles, and mounting unrest expose cracks in society. Despite Kremlin propaganda, frustration is growing as more Russians question the government’s narrative, according to The Washington Post.
The head of Yemen’s Presidential Council, Rashad al-Alimi, has ordered all forces linked to the United Arab Emirates to leave Yemen within 24 hours.
Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, said Israel has occupied the Syrian Golan Heights for almost sixty years, and that the UN General Assembly this month once again reaffirmed Syria’s sovereignty over the region.
The United States Embassy in Tashkent has confirmed that the issuance of Diversity Visas (DV) commonly referred to as Green Card visas has been suspended, although applicants may continue to submit applications and attend interviews, according to an official embassy statement.
Afghanistan is expected to remain one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises in 2026, with nearly half of the population projected to require humanitarian assistance, according to a new report published by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The Russian radio station known as 'Doomsday Radio' (or UVB-76) unexpectedly began playing ‘Swan Lake’, music from a ballet composition. The last time this was done was during the deaths of Soviet-era leaders and the 1991 coup.
Türkiye will never tolerate coercion, piracy, or banditry in its maritime “blue homeland,” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Wednesday.
As Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, rising casualties, economic struggles, and mounting unrest expose cracks in society. Despite Kremlin propaganda, frustration is growing as more Russians question the government’s narrative, according to The Washington Post.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment