Four arrests made after car torched as disorder spreads to other areas of NI on second night of Ballymena violence

Belfast Telegraph

11-06-2025

A further 17 police officers were injured following attacks by what has been called 'a baying mob with fireworks, masonry and petrol bombs'. None of those officers were hospitalised but it brings the number of injured officers across two nights of violence to 33.
Liam Kelly, chair of the Police Federation for NI, said: "I want to condemn again what has happened the last couple of nights not only in Ballymena but, as we've seen, extended into other areas as well. It's completely deplorable that this is happening. We need these attacks to stop, and stop very quickly.'
Calm was restored to the Ballymena area after 1am. Disorder broke out shortly before 8pm and continued for several hours with masonry and petrol bombs thrown at police officers and police vehicles.
A number of homes and businesses were also attacked.
During the disorder, a water cannon was deployed in an attempt to disperse the crowds, with officers also discharging a number of baton rounds.
Around 300 protestors had gathered in the area, close to where an alleged serious sexual assault on a teenage girl took place.
Police also dealt with sporadic disorder in Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus while a car was set alight in north Belfast.
Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster Programme, Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland described the incident as 'unacceptable'.
'It's deeply shocking and very disappointing and I have to say it's entirely unacceptable. This violence doesn't speak for Ballymena,' she said.
Mulholland said that the unrest distracted from the 'really serious issue' of violence against women and girls.
She added: 'That's what we should be talking about, we should be talking about how to make our society safer for women, not how to manage the fallout of violence and intimidation.
"It was just really disturbing, and deeply, deeply worrying.'
Police in Newtownabbey said last night: 'Following a protest at Cloughfern, colleagues are aware of a group of young people who appear intent on engaging in some form of disorder.
"So that we can avoid any allegation that we target local young people and attempt to criminalise them, I would ask for some assistance from friends, family or anyone with influence to help us protect these young people by diverting them away from the area and help us dispose of the fireworks to which they have gained access.'
Translink suspended bus services in several areas of Belfast due to protests.
Services on the Shore Road in north Belfast were at a standstill due to protestors blocking roadways along bus routes.
Bus services along the Ravenhill Road between the east and south of the city were also diverted towards the Ormeau Embankment due to demonstrations, while there was disruption to services in the Shankill Road area.
Protestors had also blocked roads at Carlisle Circus.
It's understood a crowd of around 50 gathered at the area holding placards saying: 'Protect Our Children.'
Police will release a further update later this morning.
In Ballymena, some residents marked doors to display their nationality while two water cannons were also at the scene of the ongoing 'serious disorder.'
At least four armoured vehicles were deployed in the Clonavon area as masked youths attacked officers.
Some Filipino workers in the area began putting stickers on their doors that declared their nationality, in an apparent bid to avoid attack.
Some people also displayed Union flags, or hung them in windows.
Petrol bombs, bricks and bottles were among the missiles thrown at police.
A PSNI spokesperson last night said the incident escalated to 'serious disorder'.
'Police are currently dealing with serious disorder in the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena this evening,' they said.
"Members of the public should avoid the area.'
A peaceful vigil on Monday to support the girl and her family was followed by serious trouble.
Two boys, both 14, were arrested and later charged with the attempted oral rape of the girl on June 7.
The charges were read to the teenagers by a Romanian interpreter.
Monday evening's violence resulted in 15 police officers suffering injuries with four homes in the area being set alight.
A 29-year-old man has been charged with riotous behaviour after being arrested during the disorder in Ballymena on Monday night