A man in his 50s has been banned from certain areas of Minehead following a disturbing hate crime targeting The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses on Mart Road. The incident involved far-right symbols spray-painted on the church’s letterbox, as well as a threatening letter and dog faeces left inside the property.
In addition to the damage to the church, a nearby vehicle was marked with similar far-right insignia, prompting police to treat the case as a religiously motivated hate crime.
The suspect was arrested on Tuesday, February 23, on suspicion of a public order offence and criminal damage. After questioning, he was released on bail with strict conditions barring him from visiting specific parts of Minehead.
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The incident took place sometime between Sunday, February 15, and Tuesday, February 17. Since then, Avon and Somerset Police have increased patrols in the area to reassure the community.
Authorities are urging anyone with information, CCTV footage, or dashcam recordings to come forward to assist with the ongoing investigation.