Sectarian signs branding all Catholics as “targets” put up on a loyalist bonfire in south Belfast have been condemned.
The signage appeared on the pyre in the Village area of south Belfast on Thursday.
Hundreds of pallets had been stacked on the large bonfire, which had been built off the Donegall Road, close to the Westlink.
One message hung from the pyre read ‘F**k the Irish News’ and also named another daily newspaper.
However, the sign also includes the threat ‘ATAT’, which is thought to mean ‘All Taigs are Targets’ along with a set of crosshairs.
Loyalist flags have also been put around the area, which is close to an interface with the Lower Falls.
There are also understood to be concerns about the bonfire’s close proximity to a number of nearby houses.
South Belfast Alliance Party MLA Kate Nicholl slammed the sectarian threats.
“Any displays of culture should be safe and respectful,” she said.
“Showing such blatant sectarianism and issuing threats is not acceptable and should be condemned by all.”
The assembly member said she intends to highlight up her concerns.
“I will be raising this matter with the authorities - we cannot go through this every year where people are deliberately offensive and threatening to others,” she said.
“This is a small minority of people and while not representative of the wider area, we cannot allow this sort of behaviour to be normalised.”
A bonfire at the Milltown Road area of south Belfast also displayed a banner mentioning the Irish News and Belfast SDLP councillor Donal Lyons, adding ‘are you watching now?’
Meanwhile, tricolours were flown at a number of loyalist bonfires in Belfast, including at Tigers Bay and Pitt Park.
An election poster bearing the image of First Minister Michelle O’Neill was placed at the top of the pyre in the Highfield area.
A bonfire in the Donegall Pass area of south Belfast also saw posters of Sinn Féin election candidates displayed, along with a banner advertising last month’s Ireland’s Future event in the SSE Arena.
