Swastikas and symbols relating to neo-Nazi group Combat 18 have been spray-painted on a wall at an under-construction shared housing development.
In the latest in a series of racist and sectarian incidents in Antrim town, graffiti relating to far-right political party National Front also appeared overnight at Fountain Hill at Stiles Way.
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A PSNI spokesperson told The Irish News it was investigating five separate weekend reports of racist graffiti in Antrim as “racially motivated hate crimes”.
A spokesperson said: “We have reports of racist graffiti daubed on the side walls of properties in the Parkhall Road area, Fountain Hill area, Craigmore Park area, Market Street area and Castle Mall area of Antrim.
South Antrim MLA Declan Kearney of Sinn Féin described the current situation as “absolutely unacceptable”.
He called for “robust police action to eradicate the influence of a self-styled paramilitary criminal gang responsible for the campaign of racist and sectarian intimidation” in Antrim town.
Mr Kearney added: “Such destabilising, hate filled activity must not go unchallenged. This is Antrim in 2024, not Alabama in 1964. There is no place for racism, sectarianism, or paramilitary influence.
“Last Friday, I raised my deepening concerns directly with the senior PSNI command and asked for an assessment of the ongoing situation. I was assured that a proactive policing approach is in place, including deployment of additional resources to provide for an increased police presence in the areas concerned.
“While I welcome the commitments provided by the PSNI to deliver upscaled police activity, this must urgently translate into robust operations to stop the escalating campaign of sectarian and racist intimidation. That must extend to putting those responsible before the courts.”
Alliance MLA John Blair said “swastikas are beyond the pale in 2024, in Antrim or anywhere else”.
“We share our community and none of us own it. When people behave as if they own it, there is normally a sinister and controlling motive.
“The actions by bullies and thugs in Antrim over the last few weeks are not reflective at all of the wider diverse Antrim community, but they are nevertheless sinister.”
UUP South Antrim MP Robin Swann said: “Those taking part in these acts want to cause fear or promote hatred and these racist attacks will not be tolerated in the Antrim community”.
“Any house subject to racist graffiti in Northern Ireland is an insult to democracy,” he said.
Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland director of Amnesty International, said the sustained campaign of racist intimidation across Antrim was appalling.
“It seems clear that in Antrim, as in other places we have seen gangs of masked men carry out racist attacks on homes and community buildings, that there is illegal paramilitary involvement,” he said.
“It is outrageous that, in 2024, the threat of violence from armed and dangerous groups is determining who can live where in Northern Ireland, rather than the lawful authorities. The neo-Nazi graffiti throughout the town overnight is a further attempt to frighten and intimidate ordinary people.”
Fountain Hill is a £6.2m project, launched in 2023 by Choice Housing in partnership with the Department for Communities and NI Housing Executive.
When completed, it will provide a mix of 34 houses for general family households and accommodation for wheelchair users and people over-55.
In a statement to The Irish News, a spokesperson for Choice Housing said: “Choice is committed to providing secure, affordable, quality accommodation to meet the diverse needs of our tenants and the safety and security of tenants is of paramount importance to us.
“The association takes all complaints and concerns raised seriously, and we encourage tenants to contact the association directly regarding any issue or concern they may have.
“These issues require a multi-agency approach and we are working with relevant stakeholders to support resolutions.”
