The bonfire topped with a model of a mosque in Moygashel, Northern Ireland, was lit at around 11:30 p.m. on Thursday evening, earlier than planned. The intention was to pre-empt the police, who intended to remove the mosque model.
Moygashel bonfire had to be lit tonight as the PSNI wanted to protect the mosque at all cost
Moygashel 1 PSNI 0@danwootton pic.twitter.com/pkNcUM0aWe
— Sarah White (@advancesarah) July 9, 2026
A 56-year-old man has been charged with a hate crime after placing the symbol on the bonfire, reports Belfast Telegraph.
People at the site held a demonstration at around 10 p.m. and decided to light the bonfire after receiving word that workers were on their way.
When the police arrived shortly afterwards, they were met with strong resistance and told to leave the area.
In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, a loyalist source had stated: «Any attempt to intervene at the Moygashel bonfire will result in thousands of loyalists descending on the area and creating a stand-off.»
Police Inspector Norman Haslett said:
«Hate crime has no place in our society and will not be tolerated. That is why this evening we launched a proactive policing operation to intervene and remove the hate display from the Moygashel Bonfire.
«Before police arrived, the bonfire was lit a day early in order to prevent the criminal material from being removed. Where there is evidence that offences have been committed, we will take robust enforcement action.»
The 56-year-old defendant is due to appear before Dungannon Magistrates’ Court today.
The bonfire at Moygashel had already attracted considerable attention beforehand, not least because the well-known activist, writer and media personality Katie Hopkins had generated publicity around it.
Two signs attached to the bonfire proclaimed «Secure Our Borders» and «Stop the Threat of Radical Islam» respectively. Belfast Telegraph describes these as «racist»—and Hopkins as «far-right».