Police in Northern Ireland are investigating a suspected hate crime following an attack on a mosque in Newtownards during the early hours of Saturday, August 10. The incident took place on Greenwell Street and involved both vandalism and an attempted arson attack.

Local authorities were alerted to the scene after reports of damage to the mosque. Upon arrival, they discovered evidence of vandalism and attempted to set the building on fire. Fortunately, the fire did not take hold, and no one was injured in the incident.

A spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) stated, “We are treating this as a hate crime, given the nature of the attack on a place of worship. Such acts of intolerance are completely unacceptable, and we are doing everything possible to identify those responsible.”

The PSNI is urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward. They are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the area during the early morning hours.

The local community has expressed shock and outrage at the attack. Representatives from the mosque have called for unity and condemned the actions of those responsible.

The investigation is ongoing, and police are appealing to the public for any information that could assist in identifying the perpetrators.