An incident whereby a group dressed up as the Ku Klux Klan is being investigated by police as a hate crime.

Photos have emerged of a group of people in County Down dressed in the offensive robes.

The photos which have been widely condemned were taken outside an Islamic Centre in Newtownards.

According to the Belfast Telegraph, the Police Service of Northern Ireland is investigating the "hate incident".

Inspector Richard Murray told the outlet, "We are also aware of images that are circulating that show people dressed as Ku Klux Klan members."

"Hate crime, in all its forms, is totally unacceptable. It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to ensure that we live in a society where diversity is respected."

The images show up to ten people in "threatening poses". They began to circulate on social media on Saturday night. 

"Some people might try to say they were out for Halloween but I'd have to say if that's the case then these are certainly not the most appropriate costumes to be wearing. It is not appreciated by our community, it is not funny and it should definitely not be treated as a joke," Strangford Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong said.

CCTV cameras outside the Islamic center has reportedly captured footage of the incident.

In 2017, a severed pigs head was left on the doorstep of the same center, prompting outrage in the local community.

Read More: Sinead O'Connor converts to Islam, changes name to Shuhada Davitt

Read More: Muslim leader says those spreading hate of Islamic fundamentalism in Ireland should be offered therapy