PSNI Treating Narrow Water Poppy Damage as a "Hate Crime"

Damage to poppy wreaths at Narrow Water in County Down is considered a hate crime, police said.

Eighteen soldiers were killed in an IRA bomb attack near Warrenpoint in August 1979.

It is believed that the wreaths were damaged on Saturday or Sunday

L & # 39; Incident was condemned by Ulster Unionist advisor David Taylor, who said the authors showed an insignificant "sectarian mentality."

"It is difficult to understand the individuals who perpetrated this vile act and I know that this most recent incident will be condemned by the vast majority of well-meaning people within the local community."

The Crowns of Narrow Water site were damaged in November 2017

The 1979 attack at Narrow Water occurred a few hours after the Queen's cousin, Lord Louis Mountbatten, was killed in a bomb blast of the # 39, IRA against his boat in Sligo County.