Police investigating graffiti attacks on street art, mural

POLICE are investigating after street art and the Ed Sheeran mural were repeatedly targeted last week by graffiti referencing Dunedin band Coyote.

A police spokeswoman said they had received a complaint regarding the attack last Tuesday night on the Bath St Sheeran mural, which was spraypainted with the words ‘‘Coyote **** u’’.

They had also received a report of two taggings in Princes and Manse Sts last Thursday night, the evening of the first Sheeran concert, she said.

‘‘Police are making inquiries with people in the area and are checking to see if any CCTV footage is available.’’

Asked about their motivation for their alleged attacks, an unidentified band member messaging from the band’s Facebook page responded ‘‘world peace’’.

‘‘Sorry for painting on everything. I was out of my mind and now I’m off to rehab to wean myself off drugs and alcohol,’’ they added.

Coyote comprises Dunedin brothers Jeremy and Louis Potts.

The words ‘‘Ed is ded [sic] long live Coyote 666’’ had been spraypainted underneath the Princes St artwork Riding Dreams by Italian artist Pixel Pancho.

‘‘Ed is deaad [sic] Coyote f*** u’’ was spraypainted near another large piece of street art, Song Bird Pipe Organ, by British artist Phlegm, in nearby Manse St.

A Chorus communications box featuring a tribute to Dunedin band The Chills was also defaced earlier this year.

An expletiveladen video later surfaced appearing to show Coyote band members scribbling over the name The Chills and writing the name of their band underneath.

The graffiti has since been removed from all four sites.