Man arrested in swastika face mask investigation released by police

Police have issued an update on their investigation into sightings of a man wearing a swastika face mask in York.

As we reported on Saturday, several people reported seeing a man being abusive and wearing the face mask, which also bore the words ‘White Pride’.

Among them was Cllr Darryl Smalley, who was interrupted while recording an interview with BBC Look North near York Minster on Saturday.

Police later arrested a man. Today the force said in a statement:

• North Yorkshire Police received a number of reports that a man was making abusive comments and wearing a swastika face covering in York city centre on Friday 17 July and Saturday 18 July.

  A 54 year-old man was arrested on suspicion of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress and racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress by words or writing.

  He has been released under investigation whilst enquiries continue.