The PSNI have begun an investigation after a street sign featuring the Irish language in Belfast was damaged by someone using an angle grinder.
Officers said they were alerted to the incident at Shandon Park in east Belfast around 8.15pm last night.
The street is a leafy suburb in a well-to-do part of the city.
The police described it as "hate-motivated criminal damage".
The sign in question had the Irish name of the street cut out. Other dual language signs at the other end of the road were left untouched.
The sign was one of a batch of 11 recently approved by Belfast City Council under its dual language street sign policy.
It was revised in 2022, making it easier for dual language signs to be erected.
The policy now requires 15% of people living on a street to express an interest in having the sign.
The application is subject to approval by the council.
A total of 16.8% of people living in Shandon Park voted in favour of the sign to include Páirc an tSeandúin on the signs.
Residents who voted against numbered 49.9%.
Unionists on the council opposed the adoption of the sign at Shandon Park on the basis that it was imposing the language in areas where it was not wanted.
Alliance said the council should use its discretion under the policy not to proceed in this particular case.
But Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Greens had the numbers to ensure it passed.
Since the introduction of the revised policy, 256 streets have been approved for dual language - principally Irish - signs.
Twenty streets did not reach the 15% threshold. A decision is pending on a further 829 streets.
Supporters say the policy is designed to make the language much more visible in the city, that minority rights can not be subject to majority rule and that the current policy is in line with UN recommendations on minority rights.
It is expected that figures to be produced by language activists in the coming days will show that the level of opposition to the scheme across the city as a whole is very low.
However, the DUP is determined to challenge it.
A private members motion is to be discussed at the Northern Ireland Assembly tomorrow, criticising the policy as "undemocratic and oppressive" and akin to marking territory.
All this comes at a time when Belfast City Council has just approved dual language branding for its buildings, vehicles and staff uniforms - something unionists are also opposing.
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