The picture of a pair of Schnauzer dogs posted days after men in Ku Klux Klan outfits sparked outrage after posing outside an Ards Islamic centre

Representatives of the Muslim community have condemned a picture on social media of a white dog dressed in a Ku Klux Klan-style hat accompanied by a black dog with a noose around its neck.

The picture of the pair of Schnauzer-type animals was posted on Wednesday night, just days after a group of people sparked outrage for posing outside a Newtownards Islamic centre in Ku Klux Klan outfits.

The man who posted the picture of the dogs described people who complained about the image he had shared online as "snowflakes".

He wrote: "Islamic community (all 40 of them) will be looking compensation if they see this picture."

The man told the Belfast Telegraph yesterday that he was not the owner of the animals, saying that they belonged to a man from Belfast.

And he added that he believed the dogs' owner had intended to create "humorous" costumes for Halloween.

"I think it's funny. I don't think it was in any way connected with the Newtownards incident," he said.

"I think it was a guy trying to have a laugh, and he sent it to his friends.

"Now that the image has gone viral, I think he is having second thoughts.

"I had the photo sent to me from someone who said it was his friend's dogs."

The man claimed that the majority of people who had viewed the image found it "funny".

"I believe that no hurt was meant towards Islam, black people or Jews," he continued.

"I don't think it was meant to be offensive.

"Is dressing dogs up a hate crime? I don't think so."

The Belfast Islamic Centre said the picture "shows a disturbing lack of concern and awareness of the history of the KKK and racism/xenophobia in the current climate".

Police have opened an investigation into the Newtownards incident, after a group was seen wearing the distinctive KKK-style costumes and carrying crosses.

The PSNI has confirmed that it is treating that incident, which attracted widespread condemnation, as a hate crime.

Churches in the town have appealed for the people responsible to come forward and explain themselves.

"Hate has no place in our town," they said in a statement.

Belfast Telegraph