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War murals torched in arson attack

A mural commemorating Lieutenant-Colonel John Henry Patterson was set alight
A mural commemorating Lieutenant-Colonel John Henry Patterson was set alight A mural commemorating Lieutenant-Colonel John Henry Patterson was set alight

TWO murals in west Belfast were set alight in an overnight arson attack.

It happened off Shankill Road, at the junction of Beverley Street and Northumberland Street, sometime between Tuesday night and the early hours of yesterday.

One of the murals features Polish airmen from the Battle of Britain in World War Two.

The other commemorates Lieutenant-Colonel John Henry Patterson – an Irishman who joined the British army and commanded the Jewish Legion during the First World War.

The Lt Colonel John Henry Patterson mural has been vandalised in previous years.

In March last year, the display was daubed with the words "scum" and "Nazis", and in June 2016 it was set alight.

DUP North Belfast MLA William Humphrey said he was "appalled and disgusted" by the latest attack, while DUP councillor Brian Kingston condemned it as "sordid" and "deplorable".

Police appealed for anyone with information about the vandalism to phone them on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.