A memorial in the Short Strand area of east Belfast has been damaged with paint and an Irish flag was stolen, according to Sinn Féin.

The incident is the sixth attack on memorials in south and east Belfast over the past week.

Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey, who represents South Belfast and sits on the Policing Board, said she had raised the matter with senior Police Service of Northern Ireland officers.

She said the attacks were hate crimes that caused distress to the families of those commemorated and anger within the community.

Ms Hargey urged those responsible to stop what she described as disgraceful and divisive behaviour.

Footage of the latest attack was shared on social media, which Ms Hargey said appeared to be an attempt to provoke retaliation.