A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of theft and criminal damage after a war memorial in Ballymena was targeted twice in three days. He is in police custody.

The memorial on Queen Street was vandalised early on Saturday 8 August and again early on Monday 10 August. In both incidents, flags were stolen and flag poles were broken.

Police believe the attacks are linked and are treating them as sectarian motivated hate crimes. Superintendent Calderwood thanked those who have assisted inquiries and appealed for further information. Anyone in the area early on those dates who noticed suspicious activity or has dash-cam footage is asked to contact police, quoting reference 275 10/08/26, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows condemned the damage as an attack on a place dedicated to those who died in the First World War. He said the memorial serves as a quiet space for reflection and a reminder of sacrifice. He said there was no excuse for targeting such a site.

Burrows noted that volunteers from the Harryville and Clonavon Recovery & Regenerate group had recently spent time cleaning and improving the area. He said their work had been destroyed and described the repeated vandalism as showing contempt for the community and the memory of those commemorated.