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At least eight individuals were pictured in white dresses and pointed cone hates, representing members of the Ku Klux Klan – a right-wing extremist group originating from the United States, inciting white supremacy, anti-semitism and anti-immigration.
Greenwell Street in Newtownwards, County Down in the midst of Halloween celebrations across the country.
George Hamilton, chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, described the incident as "disgusting" and confirmed his officers would be investigating it hate crime.
Speaking on local radio, he said: "There is no place for it anywhere in Northern Ireland and we will investigate this, we will gather evidence and report to the public prosecution service.
The group of Ku Klux Klan dressers were also spotted in a JD Wetherspoon pub near Belfast, and pushed past door staff even though they were refused entry.
Bar staff refused to serve the group, and they eventually left the pub.
JD Wetherspoon spokesperson Eddie Gershon said: "They were told by bar staff that they would not be served.
"They stayed in the pub for five minutes, unserved, and then left."
Members of the Belfast Islamic Center, where the group posed for the photo, were left shaken by the incident.
Belfast Islamic Center Executive Treasurer Dr. Raied Al-Wazzan told BBC NI's The Nolan Show: "They could have gone to anywhere in Newtownards, anywhere in Northern Ireland. people afraid.
"They are afraid to come out or even go there."
Dr. Raied said the incident may have been Halloween prank, but asked for the members to come forward and admit their wrongdoing.
He added: "If they keep it quiet for the next 24 hours, that is a deliberate act," he said.
If this is just a joke, these people should come forward and identify themselves.
"To go there in the Islamic Center is not acceptable.
"It's similar to somebody wearing a Nazi uniform and going in front of a Jewish synagogue."
A witness, who does not want to be named, said: "We have been disturbed by our voices, I have been looking at the blinds in KKK costumes.
"They looked like proper KKK outfits – they had the flap that covers the face.
"They were shouting and posing outside the pub.
"At about 2am GMT they came out of the bar so they were allowed into it in their costumes.
Police are appealing for information in regards to the incident.
Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to contact the police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting the reference 1066 with the date 28/10/2018.
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