Wreaths at the Narrow Water memorial in Warrenpoint have been damaged in the SECOND attack this week, police say.
Crosses were broken and wreaths scattered at the memorial on Thursday on the main Warrenpoint to Newry Road.
Police are treating this as a hate crime.
Inspector Ryan Moore said police received a report around 7.30am this morning (Saturday) that wreaths had been damaged and thrown onto the road.
It is believed that this happened sometime overnight, he says.
“This is the second time this week that damage at the site has been reported to police. And last month, damage was reported to us after an incident there on Saturday evening, 15 September.
“All these reports are being treated as hate crimes,” he says.
The memorial marks the site where soldiers were ambushed by two IRA bombs in August 1979.
And police are urging anyone with information to get in touch.
“We would urge anyone who witnessed what happened last night – or either of the previous incidents – to get in touch with police. We would also ask anyone who may have captured dashcam or helmet cam footage on the Warrenpoint Road last night to contact us on 101, quoting reference number CCS 306 of 06/10/18,” he adds.
Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime.