A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of intimidation and criminal damage following a series of neo-Nazi graffiti in a town in Northern Ireland.
Graffiti featuring swastikas and the phrase “C-18” was found on several properties in Antrim. The term is associated with Combat 18, a violent antisemitic neo-Nazi group.
Combat 18 was founded in the UK in 1992 and has links to groups in Canada and the United States. The number 18 in its name refers to Adolf Hitler’s initials, which are the first and eighth letters of the alphabet.
The man has since been released on bail pending further inquiries. The investigation is ongoing.
A spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said: “We hope this arrest demonstrates how seriously we take reports of race-related hate crimes and our commitment to bring offenders to justice, while supporting the victims and their families who are deeply affected by these reckless and despicable attacks.”
