Portrush: Suspicious object wrapped in pride flag sparks security alert
It's being treated as a hate crime
Last updated 30th Jun 2023
A security alert in Portrush last night centred on a suspicious object wrapped in a pride flag.
Police are treating the incident in the Hopefield Avenue area as a hate crime.
The incident coincides with pride month.
The Alliance party says the home of Councillor Peter McCully was targeted , as well as the home of a former party Councillor.
A spokesperson for the party said, "We utterly condemn those behind these appalling attacks and call on all other parties to do likewise. Nobody should face this kind of threat when simply doing their job. In addition, local residents have been left facing huge disruption due to their irresponsible actions of a few who represent nobody other than themselves. "
"This has echoes of both the dark days of our troubled past and more recent times, when homes and offices of Alliance elected representatives were targeted for once again simply doing our job. The addition of a Pride flag adds an extra sinister edge.
"It is clear some are still not getting the message this reckless violence is not welcome in Northern Ireland.
"We urge anyone with information on these incidents to contact police with it immediately."
A PSNI statement said, “a suspicious object examined in the Hopefield Avenue area of Portrush last night has been declared a hoax.”
“The object, which was wrapped in a Pride flag, was located after police received a call at around 7.30pm which stated that two devices had been left in the area.”
“Police will carry out a further search in the Hopefield Grove area this morning to ensure public safety. Anyone who comes across anything unusual or out of the ordinary in the area is advised not to touch it and to alert police immediately”.
Residents who were evacuated from their homes in Hopefield Avenue while the alert was ongoing have now returned and roads have reopened.”
Scott Cuthbertson, Director of The Rainbow Project said “We are deeply concerned to hear the reports of a security incident in Portrush last night where two suspicious objects were allegedly wrapped in a pride flag. Our thoughts are with all those caught up in this incident.”
“We understand the alarm this incident will cause to LGBTQIA+ communities in Northern Ireland, and will be working to understand what has happened by liaising with the relevant authorities.”
“At a time when anti-LGBTQIA+ hate crime in Northern Ireland is at its highest ever recorded level, we are committed to working with partners and communities to build trust, understanding and respect. Help and support is available should anyone require it, more information is on our website www.rainbow-project.org”
“There is no place for anti-LGBTQIA+ hatred in Northern Ireland.”
Read more news:
Chloe Mitchell had ‘a warm and generous heart’, funeral told
Cancer charity chief hits out at defunct Stormont 'putting patients at risk'
New Ballyhackamore bar voted Northern Ireland's 'Pub of the Year'