Activists from Lasair Dhearg defaced a large anti-immigration mural on Doagh Road in Newtownabbey, County Antrim, in the early hours of the morning. The group threw paint bombs at the AI-generated banner, which had been fixed to the gable wall of a house.

Footage posted online by the group showed the paint striking the mural. Lasair Dhearg claimed responsibility, stating the mural was racist and could not be tolerated.

The mural first appeared at the beginning of May. It depicts cloaked figures carrying Pakistan flags approaching a war veteran kneeling at a tombstone, with text reading: "Sorry it was all for nothing. It’s on each and every one of us to save what our forefathers fought and died for."

The PSNI had previously described the mural as offensive. It forms part of a trend of AI-generated anti-immigration artwork appearing in Belfast and Newtownabbey. Earlier this month, police investigated an attack by masked youths on the Shore Road in north Belfast near a similar banner that showed sheep labelled "our constituents" and masked figures with knives.

A GoFundMe campaign raised over £1,000 for a plaque, bench and gate at the mural site before the platform removed it for violating terms that prohibit activities supporting hate, violence or discrimination.

In a separate incident, a replica mosque was placed on a bonfire in Moygashel, County Tyrone, ahead of the Twelfth of July celebrations. The bonfire also displayed signs opposing immigration. A 56-year-old man was charged with incitement to hatred in connection with that incident.