Police treating theft of wreaths in Londonderry as a sectarian hate crime - SDLP MP appeals for their return
The PSNI have appealed for witnesses to come forward to solve the theft of wreaths from a war memorial in Londonderry city.
Officers are hunting the culprit who took four wreaths from The Cenotaph in The Diamond in the city last night.
He was seen running off towards Butcher Street.
Police believe the theft to have taken place between 9.45pm and 10.10pm last night.
The PSNI said: “This is being investigated as a sectarian hate crime, and police appeal to anyone with information to call 101, quoting reference 1931 of 01/07/26.”
The city’s Hamilton Flute Band, which was taking part in a Somme remembrance gathering, had stated on Facebook at about 9.30pm: “Regretfully, as per previous years, shortly after the conclusion of the commemoration, under advice from the PSNI, we chose to remove our wreaths, laid in remembrance of those from every background in our city, from the Diamond.
“Local intelligence indicated that if left, they would likely be stolen overnight by those who would strive to raise tensions and stoke anger on this most solemn of evenings.”
Other participants opted to leave their wreaths, and it was some of those which were stolen.
SDLP Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said the theft is “disheartening”, adding: “I would urge whoever did this to return the wreaths immediately.
"Respect costs nothing and our city has always led the way when it comes to accommodating different traditions and showing that we can live together peacefully.
"As we approach the summer months I would urge young people not to get caught up in tit-for-tat sectarian or anti-social behaviour and appeal to parents to ensure their children do not get involved in any disorder.
"There is so much to be positive about in Derry at the minute and the last thing we want is for incidents like this to create unnecessary tension or hold us back.”