Masked individuals entered the Drumnagoon area of Craigavon on Tuesday evening and erected flags on lampposts, according to local political representatives. Footage and photographs of the incident have been passed to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Sinn Féin councillor Catherine Nelson, the policing representative for Upper Bann, said she was contacted by families from the area overnight. She stated that the masked individuals, thought to be from outside the community, placed flags with the intention of marking territory and intimidating residents.

Councillor Nelson added that if there is community support for removing the flags, that should be facilitated. She said the area belongs to the people who live there and no outside group has the right to impose its will on the community.

Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson also reported receiving a significant amount of correspondence from residents of all backgrounds across Drumnagoon. He noted that the appearance of flags on public property without permission is not acceptable, particularly in an area that has been integrated and mixed for many years.

Mr Tennyson confirmed that Alliance has contacted the Department for Infrastructure and the local policing team to request the removal of the flags. The PSNI has been informed and is expected to engage with local representatives.

Residents emphasised that such actions risk creating division in their community, which has not seen flags erected in this manner for a decade.