I went to talk to people in Ballymena, and was told to make myself 'scarce' or there'd be trouble
Diarmuid Pepper
in Ballymena
ON THE STREETS of Ballymena, there's a reluctance among some people to talk to the media after two consecutive nights of rioting which has seen multiple homes set on fire and over 30 police officers injured.
On Queen Street, I spoke to two women who were a few doors down from a man who was cleaning the shards from his house after most of his windows had been smashed the night before.
'We've never heard of you, we only speak to GB News,' said one of the women when I informed her I worked with
The Journal
.
When I tried to speak to her friend, she told me again that 'we only speak to GB News' and she warned me to make myself 'scarce' or else there would be trouble.
I left to speak to the man who was cleaning his house after last night's riots.
The man, a Bulgarian national, didn't wish to be named, but told me he had received help from neighbours from his native country as well as Poland and Romania.
No offers of help had been forthcoming from his Northern Irish neighbours, he said.
He doesn't feel welcome any longer in the area, he said.
It was at this point that he nodded over my shoulder.
The woman who would only speak to GB News was now filming me and again announced that I was not welcome.
'The local residents understand'
I left and spoke to a man further down the street who said he was part of a 'local regeneration group' but did not wish to be named.
While the Bulgarian man within his eyeline had received no offers of help from his Northern Irish neighbours, the man from the local regeneration group nevertheless described his street as a 'good street with a good sense of neighbourhood'.
I asked him, given the supposed good sense of neighbourhood, if he was disappointed to see his neighbour a few doors down cleaning shards of glass from his home, or to see a child's bedroom with a smashed window at another house nearby.
A pram and wheelchair outside the smashed window of a child's bedroom in Ballymena
Diarmuid Pepper / The Journal
Diarmuid Pepper / The Journal / The Journal
'I condemn violence and the way it has been perpetrated but the general feeling is that somebody is going to have to listen to the feeling on the streets,' the man said.
He said these 'feelings' have been around for years, but that an alleged sexual assault over the weekend was like a 'volcano erupting'.
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On Monday, two teenage boys appeared in court charged with the sexual assault of a young teenage girl.
The two teenagers spoke through a Romanian translator and their solicitor said they deny the charges.
The man said 'these current problems will pass, there is a bigger problem and it cannot go back to the way it was'.
He said the local area cannot facilitate current levels of immigration, before adding: 'That's not being racist'.
He claimed there isn't enough housing or local amenities.
Migration figures
About 3.5% of the population in Northern Ireland are from an ethnic minority, compared to more than 18% in England and Wales and about 13% in Scotland.
In the Mid and East Antrim council area, which includes Ballymena, the 2021 census said the area's population was just under 139,000 people. The net number of international migrants who have moved into the area between 2001 and 2022 was just 4,900.
However, the man from the local regeneration group expressed hope that the area can 'once again be what it was in the 1970s'.
He said businesses had been told to lock their gates for their own safety last night and that locals had been told to stand in their own front yard and that they would be safe.
However, he said that on Monday night he was 'verbally abused' when he boarded up a neighbour's window.
'Maybe they thought that it was a foreign national's house and they surrounded me,' he said.
When asked who it was that told businesses and locals what to do, he did not give a specific answer but said it was 'clear' last night that there was a 'sense of protecting locals' and that this wasn't there on Monday night.
He said there were 'definitely elements of the protest on Monday night that weren't local'.
In a press conference on Tuesday in Ballymena police station, the PSNI's Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said there was a 'degree of pre-planning' to the riots.
'This is just racism'
Over on Clonavon Terrace, where four homes were burnt out on Monday night, a Romanian teenager told
The Journal
that the while the rioters claim to be fighting for the victim of the alleged sexual assault, they're 'just destroying their own town'.
'Where is the justice for this poor girl? This isn't justice for her, this is just racism destroying where we live. They don't care about the girl.'
A Polish woman who lives in Clonavon Terrace was of the same opinion.
'Nobody cares about the girl, it's just vandalism,' she told
The Journal
.
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Starmer and NI ministers condemn 'mindless' Ballymena violence after second night of disorder
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'I'm okay with protesting after what happened here, but not like that. I've been here for 18 years and I deserve peace.'
She said she felt there was support for the riots locally and that friends who lived nearby have moved as a result.
Brett speaking to The Journal close to his home
Diarmuid Pepper / The Journal
Diarmuid Pepper / The Journal / The Journal
Meanwhile, Brett (he asked us not to publish his surname) who owns a B&B just around the corner from where the worst of the rioting has taken place on Clonavon Terrace said that while his house was spared, his boat was not.
'They rammed the boat into a house, they used it as a ramming weapon to smash the door,' he said.
Brett, who is originally from the US city of Detroit, told
The Journal
that he was perplexed by the level of misinformation surrounding the rioting online.
'This is my boat being used, and I saw people saying, 'go back to where you came from on the boat you sailed here on'.'
How does a Romanian migrant family on welfare in Ballymena afford a speedboat with a 50 HP Mercury outboard engine?
pic.twitter.com/NPPitIhT8M
— NI SKIES (@ni_skies)
June 10, 2025
He said he knows a lot of the foreign nationals in the area, including some from the Romanian community who he described as 'good people'.
'There's always bad apples in every religion or group, but now the Romanian community is tarnished with the one brush.'
Another local man who didn't wish to be named described the rioting as 'madness'.
'People argue there's crime within the Romanian community, but the ones that I see are decent people who just want to get on with their life like everyone else.'
However another local resident told me that while there are 'good Filipinos', he wanted all those from the Romanian community to be 'kicked out'.
When asked about a Filipino home on the street which had been vandalised, he claimed it was 'the heat of the moment' and there had been 'confusion'.
Numerous 'Filipino lives here' stickers were posted on front doors and windows
Diarmuid Pepper / The Journal
Diarmuid Pepper / The Journal / The Journal
He said the local community had apologised to them and that this apology was accepted.
However, it was not possible to put this claim to the Filipinos in question. The man told us they had to move out because of the extensive damage caused to their home.
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Irish Independent
6 hours ago
- Irish Independent
The Indo Daily: Fires and fury - Third night of violent disorder at Northern Ireland's anti-migrant riots
The violence initially erupted in Ballymena on Monday after two 14-year-old Romanian boys were charged with a serious sexual assault. Anti-immigration protestors gathered in towns across the north with some being peaceful, while others turned violent. By Wednesday, rioting had spread to other towns, including Coleraine and Larne – where the leisure centre was set on fire by masked vandals who also smashed windows. The leisure centre had been providing emergency shelter for families fleeing Ballymena. The PSNI have said it is 'not clear' if paramilitaries are coordinating the violence. On today's Indo Daily, Ciarán Dunbar spoke to Belfast Telegraph reporter Gabrielle Swan and visuals editor, Kevin Scott
Irish Independent
8 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Ballymena riots: Michelle O'Neill calls for DUP minister to resign over social media post after third night of racist violence
Officers responded with water cannon, dogs and plastic baton rounds in an attempt to disperse crowds in the Co Antrim town. The violence began around Clonavon Terrace in Balymena on Monday night following an earlier peaceful protest which was organised in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the area. Two teenage boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, have been charged. Families in some areas have resorted to marking their nationality with flags on their front doors after masked gangs targeted homes thought to belong to foreign families in the area. Unrest spread to other towns on Wednesday, including Coleraine and Larne – where the leisure centre was set on fire by masked vandals who also smashed windows. The facility had temporarily been used as emergency shelter for those in urgent need following disturbances in Ballymena earlier in the week. Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons should resign over the social media post sent hours before the attack on Larne Leisure Centre. Mr Lyons has faced criticism over a social media post about the location of migrant families who fled their homes. Mr Lyons resisted calls for his resignation and said he would 'strongly hit back at any notion' that he had publicly revealed the facility was being used to house immigrant families who had been affected by violence in Ballymena. Masked youths attacked the leisure centre on Wednesday night and set it on fire. Mr Lyons' post said: 'As a local MLA for the area, neither I nor my DUP council colleagues were made aware or consulted on this decision until late this afternoon.' He added: 'It has now been confirmed to us by the PSNI and council that all these individuals are in the care of the Housing Executive and have been moved out of Larne. 'Protesting is of course a legitimate right but violence is not and I would encourage everyone to remain peaceful.' Ms O'Neill said: 'He has failed to show correct leadership and I think that his commentary falls very short and very much strays into the territory of inflaming the situation, so I think that he should consider his position.' Asked if she was stating he should resign, she said: 'Yes, I believe he should consider his position.' Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, who is a DUP party colleague of Mr Lyons, said: 'I think that what the people of Northern Ireland need and want right now is to see that the Executive is united, and united on a very clear message. 'That is incredibly important, we have just seen three nights of violent disorder.' Mr Lyons was asked by the BBC Good Morning Ulster programme if he should still be in his job, and he replied: 'Absolutely.' He said: 'Let me set out the facts because it is clear that some don't know them. 'The leisure centre was used to temporarily house those who had been affected by the violence in Ballymena. 'This had been confirmed yesterday publicly. It was in the public domain, it was on a news website and it had been confirmed by the council. 'My message was posted because rumours had been circulating that the leisure centre was to be turned into a permanent centre, the messages flying about that caravans were being brought into the car park there. 'A protest had already been planned at 7pm last evening. 'The PSNI was then in contact with one of our local councillors and they were keen that we highlight the fact that the leisure centre was no longer being used for this purpose, they wanted to stop the rumours that people were being permanently housed there and all of that was the catalyst for the protest. 'As a result of that, I posted a clarification that the centre had been used but that was temporary and was no longer being used for that purpose.' Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, who highlighted the use of the building in a social media post, said all those who had been staying at the leisure centre are in the care of the Housing Executive and have been moved out of Larne. SLDP MLA Matthew O'Toole, the leader of the opposition in the Northern Ireland Assembly, said he would refer Mr Lyons to the standards commission following the fire. Justice minister Naomi Long said those rioting 'should be afraid because police will make arrests'. 'Those people who have been showing their faces in the camera and think that they are empowered when they are part of a mob may not feel so brave when they get a knock on the door from the local police to arrest them for charges of riotous behaviour,' she said on BBC's Good Morning Ulster on Thursday Morning. When asked how she would respond to those who say they are not afraid, Ms Long said they 'should be'. 'They should be afraid, because the police will make arrests, they have already done so over the past number of days, and I would expect that, as with the riotous behaviour last year, that a robust approach will be taken when it comes to dealing with those engaged with this sort of destructive racism and hate and violence on our streets.' Asked if photographs will be shared in the public domain she explained that that is the decision of the PSNI's chief constable. 'But that is how he proceeded last year and I know it was a very effective way in terms of identifying those who were involved in serious disturbances,' she said. 'What I would like to see is all of those in the community in positions of leadership, with influence, bring this to an end before someone loses their life, because that is the space we are now in, and people need to take responsibility for their own actions but also need to do everything within their power to call on others.' Several arrests have been made and dozens of police officers have been injured during the sustained unrest in Ballymena, which also saw multiple properties and vehicles set on fire. In the town on Wednesday, the PSNI deployed riot police for a third night in a row as hundreds gathered around the Clonavon Terrace area. At least one protester was struck by plastic baton rounds fired by police while officers also used a water cannon on the crowd. Officers also used dog units and drones in their response to the gathering. Riot police with shields advanced on the crowd to disperse them down Bridge Street onto other roadways. They came under sustained attack as those participating in disorder hurled petrol bombs, masonry and fireworks at police vehicles and officers standing nearby. Rioters smashed the windows of a house on North Street and set multiple fires on streets in the surrounding area. The disorder and stand-off with police continued past midnight. The PSNI have also noted scenes of disorder in Belfast, Lisburn, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey earlier in the week, as businesses, homes and cars were attacked and damaged. By Wednesday, six individuals had been arrested for public order offences, and one charged. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he 'utterly condemns' violence which left 32 police officers injured after the second night of disturbances. PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has warned the rioting 'risks undermining' the criminal justice process into an allegation of a sex attack on a teenage girl in Ballymena at the weekend. Stormont ministers have also made an urgent appeal for calm and said the justice process had to be allowed to take its course. First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly appeared together on Wednesday to voice their condemnation. Sinn Fein vice-president Ms O'Neill told reporters in Belfast: 'It's pure racism, there is no other way to dress it up.' Ms Little-Pengelly described the scenes in Ballymena as 'unacceptable thuggery'. With the protests focused in predominantly loyalist areas in Ballymena, Ms O'Neill said she did not believe it would be helpful for her to visit in the current context. DUP MLA Ms Little-Pengelly met residents in the town on Wednesday and said the local community are in fear and wanted the violence to stop. 'The key message here today is around that violence, and that the violence needs to stop, that's what the community wants to put across, and that's why I'm here to send that very clear and united message from right throughout the community and local residents for that to stop,' she said. See our live blog, courtesy of our sister publication The Belfast Telegraph here: 30 minutes ago DUP leader Gavin Robinson doesn't accept 'loyalism has a particular problem with racist radicalisation' On BBC NI's Talkback, Mr Robinson rejected claims that sections of loyalism have a problem with racist radicalisation, saying he would 'not categorise it that way.' Mr Robinson said: "I think there are issues around immigration clearly, within our communities, and I think that there has been as you have heard over the last number of days, repeated issues about certain areas in which some of the tensions are more pronounced." Mr Robinson said he would only "speak through fact" and called for the disorder to stop. "I will speak about what I know and I will not delve into assumptions that I cannot stand over, and I don't think it is helpful to do that in this situation. What I am saying very clearly is that there is disorder on our streets and it needs to stop," he said. "That disorder is concentrated in certain areas, and it needs to stop. It has the danger of spreading, it has the danger of risking life, we already have a situation where it is definitely risking property, people are vulnerable and people are under attack and they are having to seek refuge, it needs to stop. "Whether you think it is useful to have this conversation is one thing, what I am saying is that I will speak over what I know and what I know is that the police have indicated that they cannot stand over the view that there is paramilitary involvement and they do not see there is paramilitary involvement and there is continual quest to put labels on things which aren't necessarily going to help." Today 09:22 AM Downing Street condemned the 'disgraceful' attack on the leisure centre in Larne A No 10 spokesman said: 'As the Prime Minister said yesterday, he utterly condemns the ongoing violence seen in parts of Northern Ireland. The PSNI have our full support in continuing to restore order, to keep the peace and keep people safe. 'His thoughts are with communities and people impacted by the disgraceful scenes at the Larne leisure centre, and it's absolutely vital that the PSNI officers and emergency service workers are allowed to respond without facing mindless attacks.' Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn met PSNI's chief constable and officers on Thursday morning, No 10 said. Today 09:20 AM Irish premier Micheal Martin has said he is 'horrified' by violence in Co Antrim The Taoiseach said the riots were 'regressive' and 'backward'. 'I'm genuinely very saddened and horrified by what's happening, that people should be attacked in such a manner, that such violence should manifest itself in the way it has,' he said speaking in Dundalk. 'It's a sad day, and I would appeal to all involved to desist, to back off, to allow people to live in peace and in harmony, irrespective of creed or colour and race and ethnicity and so on. 'We are a multicultural world, and this is a regressive, sort of backward approach, that level of hostility that we haven't experienced for some time. 'We will support the PSNI and support all right-thinking people in both condemning the violence, but also doing everything we possibly can to bring calm back to the situation.' Taoiseach Micheal Martin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Today 09:17 AM Olympic swimmer Conor Ferguson 'sad to see club pool destroyed by thugs' Larne Leisure Centre was the target of an attack on Wednesday night. Posting on social media platform X, the Larne Swimming Club member said: "Really sad to see my home club pool being destroyed by thugs. Even more upsetting to hear this was happening during children's swimming lessons. "Acts like this don't just damage property, they damage NI communities. "Sending support to all those affected." Today 09:03 AM PSNI engaging with 'groups likely to be affected by any protest activity' Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said: 'We are aware of social media posts calling for protests across Northern Ireland this evening and in the week ahead. 'We urge anyone who plans to attend these protests to engage with us as we will be doing our part to ensure the safety of participants and to facilitate the lawful exercise of freedom of expression. 'Police will not tolerate a repeat of the scenes we saw last night in Ballymena and other parts of Northern Ireland. 'We will continue to diligently monitor the situation to ensure an appropriate and proportionate policing response and we will be engaging with groups likely to be affected by any protest activity.' Today 08:58 AM Council assessing 'significant damage' caused to Larne Leisure Centre A spokesperson for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said: 'Council is currently assessing the significant damage caused to Larne Leisure Centre following last night's events. "Our priority is to ensure the safety of all residents and staff, and to restore the leisure centre to full operation. At present, the centre remains closed. "We would urge anyone with information regarding the incident to contact the police on 101.' Today 08:40 AM Three teenagers appear in court Three teenagers have appeared in court charged with rioting offences following the recent violence in Ballymena. A district judge in the town's magistrates' court said a strong message had to be sent out that those involved in the disorder would be dealt with 'robustly' by the court. Judge warns those involved in Ballymena disorder will be dealt with 'robustly' as three teenagers appear in court Three teenagers have appeared in court charged with rioting offences following recent violence in Ballymena. Today 08:23 AM 'It was a miracle that nobody was seriously injured or killed last night' Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly was at Larne Leisure Centre when it was attacked on Wednesday evening. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph he said "we need to bring calm to our streets". Today 07:53 AM Housing Association advises residents to leave homes ahead of planned protest Arbour Housing in Portadown sent a letter to its residents saying that a demonstration planned for Thursday is "directed towards migrants, foreign nationals, and what are perceived as deviant behaviour". The BBC has reported that letter added that the demonstration could lead to an "unsafe situation" and advised them to "stay with family or friends during the protest". The letter also said residents should take measures to "secure your property and belongings". Groups sharing details of the protest on social media said it will be "peaceful". Today 07:22 AM Deputy Mayor calls for calm ahead of planned protest Alliance Deputy Mayor Jessica Johnston has called for calm across the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council area, after social media reports of planned protests in the Portadown area. Councillor Johnston said: 'The right to peacefully protest is a crucial aspect of our democracy, but we have seen people going out to deliberately cause violence and mayhem, while stoking racial tension. 'That is not acceptable anywhere. We have seen other areas descend into unrest and chaos, which achieves nothing except creating fear, hate and division, while also seeing the mindless destruction of people's own areas and vital public services. I don't want to see the Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon area be the same. 'My heart goes out to all the newcomer and ethnic minority families who will not doubt be feeling fearful at this time. I want to reassure them the vast majority of people in our community are decent, inclusive and welcoming. 'I appeal to anyone looking at social media posts concerning planned protests to avoid them, and to those attempting to organise such protests, I urge to think again – remember there is a young girl at the heart of this situation and please don't use her trauma and pain as an excuse to cause trouble locally.' Today 07:15 AM MP urges those involved in planned Portadown protest to remain 'calm and respectful' MP for Upper Bann, Carla Lockhart, has said "legitimate concerns" must be "expressed within the boundaries of the law". Posting on social media on Thursday the DUP MP said: "Protests that are conducted within the law are a legitimate form of democratic expression, allowing individuals and groups to voice their opinions, advocate for change, and hold those in power accountable while respecting the rights of others and maintaining public order." She added: "I urge all involved to remain calm and respectful. Lawful protest is a right in any free society, but it must not tip into confrontation or chaos. "We have already seen in Ballymena how genuine grievances can be hijacked by a minority and spiral into violence. That is neither wanted nor welcome. "We must also remember that many people from different cultures have been part of our community in Portadown and surrounding areas for years. They are working in our hospitals, schools, and businesses contributing positively to society. "I strongly encourage everyone to remain calm and to never cross the line into criminal behaviour. The consequences of that can last a lifetime. "Let's ensure that whatever message is being sent is done so clearly, peacefully, and responsibly." Today 06:09 AM 'A brick came through the window, there were women on yoga mats' Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly was at Larne Leisure centre when it was attacked on Wednesday evening. Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland show on Thursday morning, he explained how a crowd of about 100 people gathered at the facility around 6.30pm. 'There was a very sinister element to it,' he said. 'A crowd of masked youths were wandering around picking up bricks and pulling out bins. 'There was clearly an intent to attack the building and the building was busy at the time; there was a swimming club on and there was families and young children, people were doing fitness classes and coming and going about their business, but there was clearly an intent to attack the building and unfortunately that prevailed. 'The building was then pelted with bricks, windows were smashed, police were attacked with bricks and the building was set on fire." Mr Donnelly said the building had suffered "extensive fire damage" and "will be out of action for quite a while now." 'This is our town leisure centre which has been gutted," he added. 'It was absolutely disgusting, and it was quite frightening being inside the building as it was being attacked. 'There was a class going on when a brick came through the window, there was women on yoga mats doing an exercise class and a brick came through the window. 'Thankfully no one was injured but they very easily could have been. 'The staff were fantastic, they were able to manage to get people out to safety and away from the main thrust of the mob.' Today 06:09 AM Olympic swimmer's sadness at leisure centre attack An Olympic swimmer who is a member of Larne Swimming Club has spoken of her sadness at the attack on Larne Leisure Centre. Danielle Hill, who also coaches younger children at the club, said the leisure centre was a safe space for so many. In a post on Instagram, Hill spoke of sadness at events in the town "I have proudly represented on the world stage". "No child should ever be forced to witness masked men in their home community," she said. "The local leisure centre is a safe place for so many, from young children (as young as six) learning to swim to elderly residents, has now been transformed into a place marked by fear and trauma. "What unfolded last night was not just violence - it was racism in its rawest and most dangerous form. Young people seeking 'fun' in a senseless act of vandalism. And its consequences are already being felt; a local community torn apart, families left frightened, workers left without incomes. The harm is not abstract - it is here, it is local and it is devastating." She also urged rebuilding. "This is a moment to come together, not fall apart," she said. "Let's keep talking. Let's keep listening. As we have done so many times before, let's lead with compassion, stand up for one another and show the strength of our community through our support - for every child and every family that calls this centre a home. Time to rebuild." Today 05:50 AM Footage appears to show a man with a hatchet during the third night of rioting in Ballymena. In a statement the PSNI said that petrol bombs, a hatchet, masonry and fireworks were among items thrown at officers. Today 05:22 AM Three nights of unrest 'not what Northern Ireland is about' – Benn Hilary Benn described scenes as 'shocking' after Wednesday saw a third consecutive night of unrest. Mr Benn said there is 'absolutely no justification for civil disorder'. He told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme: 'This not what Northern Ireland is about, this is not what we want the rest of the world to see. 'We all, as elected representatives, have a responsibility to seek to calm things down, to support those in the community trying to keep people safe, principally the PSNI, to work with community leaders to lower tensions. 'Whatever views people hold, there is no justification for trying to burn people out of their homes, that is what is going on, and that is what needs to stop because it is shocking and damaging, and it reflects very badly of the image of Northern Ireland that we all want to send to the rest of the world.' Today 05:13 AM PSNI appeals ' for calm voices and cool heads to reduce tensions' Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said: 'Last night a significant policing operation was again required on our streets to deal with violent disorder. 'This criminal behaviour has no place on the streets of Northern Ireland and is completely unacceptable. 'What we witnessed last night has caused fear and huge disruption within our communities, including to our local transport network and community services. 'Police officers came under attack from petrol bombs, fireworks and heavy masonry. 'A hatchet was also thrown at police lines during this disorder in a clear attempt to seriously injure our officers – and I thank them once again for their continued efforts putting themselves on the line keeping our streets safe. 'We made six arrests last night during this disorder and more will follow. We are working hard to identify all those responsible in this criminal disorder, and those involved will be dealt with using the full force of the law. 'We are now in the process of gathering evidence, CCTV and other footage of yesterday's disorder, and anyone who has information or who can help identify those responsible is asked to contact police on 101. 'I would strongly urge anyone who was involved in yesterday's rioting and disorder to think long and hard about their actions and its impact. I would also appeal for calm voices and cool heads to reduce tensions.' Today 05:08 AM Six arrested and nine officers injured during third consecutive night of violence across Northern Ireland In a statement the PSNI said that petrol bombs, a hatchet, masonry and fireworks were among items thrown at officers in Ballymena. Unrest also broke out in Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus and Coleraine. Protests in the Antrim and Lisburn areas passed without incident, while protests in Belfast "were also mainly peaceful". Two men aged in their 20s and one in their 30s, and two teenagers were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and other offences. A teenager was also arrested in the Newtownabbey area in connection with disorder in the Station Road area. A spokesperson for the PSNI said:" In Larne, officers responded to a report the local leisure centre had been set alight in a shameful arson attack. "Shockingly, people were inside the building at the time of this fire – thankfully no injuries were reported – and we could have been looking at a completely different situation. "Our enquiries remain ongoing today in relation to the circumstances surrounding the fire. "In the Marine Highway area of Carrickfergus some masked protestors blocked local roads." They added: "In Coleraine, police received reports that a bus had been attacked, and was prevented from entering the train station. "A number of bins were also set alight on train tracks at the station - and petrol bombs were also thrown at officers – trains and bus services were also cancelled. "We are also investigating a fire to nearby business premises and a subsequent report that a number of young people broke into a local tyre business and added tyres to fire. "In Belfast, our officers dealt with a number of protests across the city – these were also mainly peaceful – travel was disrupted within the city for a short period of time in the Shankill and Shore Road areas. "As a result of a significant policing operation calm was restored to all areas at around 1am this morning." Today 04:28 AM Three teens charged following disorder in Ballymena The PSNI have confirmed that the arrests are in connection with disorder that broke out in the area on Tuesday, June 10. One man, aged 18, and two teenage boys, aged 15 and 17, have been charged with riot. The 15-year-old has also been charged with criminal damage. They are expected to appear before Ballymena Magistrates Court today. Two other teenage boys who were arrested during the disorder have been released on bail to allow for further police enquiries. Today 04:15 AM Justice minister says those rioting 'should be afraid because police will make arrests' 'Those people who have been showing their faces in the camera and think that they are empowered when they are part of a mob may not feel so brave when they get a knock on the door from the local police to arrest them for charges of riotous behaviour,' she said on BBC's Good Morning Ulster on Thursday Morning. When asked how she would respond to those who say they are not afraid, Ms Long said they 'should be'. She said: 'Well they should be, they should be afraid, because the police will make arrests, they have already done so over the past number of days, and I would expect that, as with the riotous behaviour last year, that a robust approach will be taken when it comes to dealing with those engaged with this sort of destructive racism and hate and violence on our streets.' Asked if photographs will be shared in the public domain she explained that that is the decision of the PSNI's chief constable. 'But that is how he proceeded last year and I know it was a very effective way in terms of identifying those who were involved in serious disturbances,' she said. 'What I would like to see is all of those in the community in positions of leadership, with influence, bring this to an end before someone loses their life, because that is the space we are now in, and people need to take responsibility for their own actions but also need to do everything within their power to call on others.' Today 04:00 AM Gordon Lyons to be referred to Assembly watchdog 'He is unfit for office': Gordon Lyons to be reported over social media comments on Larne Leisure Centre Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has said his comments about Larne Leisure Centre housing individuals displaced by recent riots were made before the building was set alight, and were intended to 'diffuse' tensions. Live Blog Software
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12 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Sick moment vile yob shouts ‘f*** foreigners' while setting family's home on FIRE in ‘racist' riot carnage
THIS is the vile moment yobs shouted "f*** foreigners" while setting a family's home on fire in "racist" riot carnage. Hundreds gathered on the streets of Ballymena in Northern Ireland on Wednesday facing police armed with riot shields and water cannon on the third night of anti-immigrant demonstrations. 7 This is the vile moment yobs shouted 'f*** foreigners' while setting a family's home Credit: X 7 A man filming the scenes on his phone can be heard screaming 'f*** the foreigners' 7 Video footage emerged on social media today showing masked thugs stoking a fire in a kitchen Video footage emerged on social media today showing masked thugs breaking into a house and stoking a fire in the kitchen. It is unclear who the property belonged to, but a man filming the scenes on his phone can be heard screaming "f*** the foreigners". He grabs a kettle and while thrusting it into the air in front of a group of thugs, he shouts "yes! f*** the foreigners". The protests erupted in the northern town of Ballymena after the arrest of two teenagers accused of attempting to rape a young girl. Read more News The pair appeared Monday in court, where they asked for a Romanian interpreter. Police have not confirmed the ethnicity of the teenagers, who remain in custody, but areas attacked on Monday and Tuesday included neighbourhoods where Romanian migrants live. Ministers from every party in the province's power-sharing executive strongly condemned "the racially motivated violence witnessed in recent days". Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the unrest in Ballymena "mindless violence". Most read in The Sun Around 20 miles southeast of the town, The centre was temporarily sheltering people from Ballymena who had been evacuated. Masked yobs set fire to NI leisure centre 'used to house locals fleeing riots' as violence hits Ballymena for 3rd night People living in Ballymena described "terrifying" scenes in which attackers had targeted "foreigners" over the previous days. Some people fixed signs to their houses indicating they were Filipino residents, or hung up British flags. Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill, the Sinn Fein vice-president, called the violence "abhorrent". The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said in a statement that its officers "came under sustained attack over a number of hours with multiple petrol bombs, heavy masonry, bricks and fireworks in their direction". Some of the injured officers required hospital treatment. Police Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson on Tuesday denounced the violence as "racist thuggery" and said it was "clearly racially motivated and targeted at our minority ethnic community and police". 7 Larne Leisure Centre came under attack and was set on fire in the evening Credit: X / @TheNorfolkLion 7 A sticker with a Philippines flag and the words 'Filipino lives here' on a house Credit: Reuters 7 Fireworks were shot at the police barricade as the unrest unfolded Credit: AFP 7 Fire burns near a masked man in the Northern Ireland town of Ballymena Credit: Reuters
