A second man has been arrested in connection with the spraying of slurry on roads in Ballymena just hours before the town hosted its first ever Pride parade.
The 20-year-old was arrested on Sunday morning on suspicion of criminal damage, aiding and abetting criminal damage and causing material to be deposited on a road.
He remained in custody on Sunday evening.
A 19-year-old man has already been charged over the incident.
He is due to appear at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court on Monday on charges of criminal damage, possession of an article with a blade or point, and causing material to be deposited on a road.
Police said the matter was being treated as a hate crime.
Mid and East Antrim Pride’s parade went ahead in the town for the first time on Saturday.
An eyewitness told the Irish News that the waste left a foul stench in the town.
A rapid clean-up operation was launched on Saturday morning in response.
Local Sinn Féin councillor Breanainn Lyness said he was “disturbed” by the incident.
“Let me be clear, covering the streets in filth because you disagree with a group or event is not a form of free speech, it is a deliberate of hostility,” he said.
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“These actions are not protests, they are acts of intimidation, and they have no place in civilised society”, he said.
He added that the town “doesn’t need any more hate or violence”, and said the incident “spreads a message of hate”.
North Antrim Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland said: “There is no place for this kind of disgusting and deliberate attempt to intimidate, disrupt, or shame those taking part in a peaceful and joyful celebration of love, identity, and community.
“No amount of hate will drown out the message of inclusion, solidarity, and pride that today represents,” she added.
