Express and Star
·Jul 2026
Loyalist bonfire lit early after police begin to remove mosque replica
A loyalist bonfire in Moygashel, Co Tyrone was lit early after police began an operation to remove a replica mosque placed atop the pyre, which the PSNI described as a hate‑motivated criminal offence. A man has been charged with incitement to hatred. Political leaders, religious figures and human rights groups condemned the display as offensive, intimidating and harmful to community relations, while the Moygashel Bonfire Association defended it as a political protest against illegal immigration. Parties across Northern Ireland warned that such actions damage cultural traditions and increase tensions, urging respect, lawful expression and protection of minority communities.