Disorder in Ballymena ‘clearly racially motivated', PSNI says
Significant and sustained 'disorder' in Ballymena on Monday night was 'clearly racially motivated', the
Police Service of Northern Ireland
(PSNI) has said.
Four houses were damaged by fire during the violence that erupted in the Clonavon Terrace area following a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in the Co Antrim town.
The PSNI confirmed that 15 officers were injured, with some requiring hospital treatment, after being targeted with petrol bombs, bricks and masonry.
Local MP and TUV leader
Jim Allister
said tensions had been growing in the area over immigration and described the unrest as 'very distressing'.
READ MORE
Two 14-year-old boys appeared in court on Monday charged with attempted rape. The charges were read to the teenagers by a Romanian interpreter.
Police and firefighters responded to public disorder in Ballymena town centre on Monday evening. Photograph: Pacemaker
On Tuesday, a senior police officer said he wanted to condemn the disorder in 'the strongest possible terms' and confirmed that detectives are 'actively working to identify those responsible and bring them to justice'.
A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of riotous and disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police. He remains in custody.
'Last night saw significant sustained disorder in Ballymena. This violence was clearly racially motivated and targeted at our minority ethnic community and police,' Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said.
'This violence has no place in our society and should be loudly condemned by all right-thinking people.'
There will be an increased police presence in Ballymena to 'help protect these communities' and prevent any future disorder, he added.
'We are engaging with groups affected by the disorder to support and reassure them. I would strongly urge anyone who was involved in yesterday's violent disorder to reflect long and hard about their actions, they will have consequences,' added assistant chief constable Henderson.
He appealed for 'calm over the coming days'.
A damaged property at Clonavon Terrace in Ballymena following Monday evening's protest. Photograph: Jonathan McCambridge/PA Wire
Six properties in Clonavon Terrace were damaged after their windows were smashed during the disorder.
Stormont
Justice Minister
Naomi Long
said there can be 'no justification' for such 'appalling' scenes.
Social media footage showed protesters burning plastic road barriers and bins as part of a barricade on the street. Some masked individuals also threw missiles, including cans of paint and glass bottles, at PSNI vehicles.
A line of police vehicles advanced towards the protesters followed by officers on foot.
In its update on Tuesday, the PSNI said the protest – attended by hundreds of people – was 'initially peaceful' before a number of masked individuals broke away and began to 'build barricades, stockpile missiles and attack properties in the Clonavon Terrace area'.
'Police officers came under sustained attack over a number of hours with multiple petrol bombs, fireworks, heavy masonry and bricks thrown in their direction by masked rioters. Fifteen officers were injured with some requiring hospital treatment,' the PSNI said.
'Two police vehicles were also damaged during the disorder.'
In a separate incident, police are also investigating a report of arson at the Tobar Park area of Cullybackey, a village in Co Antrim, on Tuesday.
Shortly after 12.20am, it was reported that a petrol bomb was thrown at a vehicle in the area which set it alight.
Damage was caused to a nearby property, with a woman and two children inside. Police said the attack is being treated as a racially motivated hate crime.
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Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rioter sets himself on fire in Ballymena chaos after 'petrol bomb blunder'
A rioter in Ballymena faced instant consequences after an apparent failed attempt to throw a petrol bomb at police left him engulfed in flames. The man, wearing a grey tracksuit with a balaclava and his hood up, was caught on video allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail that backfired, setting his lower body alight. Panicked, he turned to run towards the crowd, where others rushed to extinguish the flames. The incident happened on Tuesday during the second night of violence in the Co Antrim town, sparked by the arrest over the weekend of two 14-year-old boys in connection with an alleged sexual assault near Clonavon Terrace. Both teens, who required a Romanian interpreter in court, denied the charge of attempted oral rape during a magistrates hearing on Monday. What began as a protest escalated rapidly. By Monday night, rioters smashed windows of two homes near the alleged assault site before setting them ablaze. Fires burned throughout the night, with 15 police officers injured in hours of confrontation. The violence intensified on Tuesday, Express reports. According to the PSNI, officers in the Clonavon Terrace area faced "sustained attacks" for several hours. Petrol bombs, fireworks, bricks and other missiles were thrown at them. Seventeen officers were injured on Tuesday alone, with some requiring hospital treatment. Riot police responded with plastic baton rounds and water cannons in an attempt to disperse crowds. Dog units and armored vehicles were deployed, and several roads were closed for public safety. PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher condemned the violence, calling it "deeply concerning and utterly unacceptable". He warned that the unrest "risks undermining the ongoing criminal justice process" and pursuit of justice for the alleged victim. He added: "These criminal acts not only endanger lives but also risk undermining the ongoing criminal justice process led by the PSNI in support of a victim who deserves truth, justice, and protection. Ironically, and frustratingly, this violence threatens to derail the very pursuit of justice it claims to challenge. "Let me be clear: this behaviour must stop. I appeal to everyone involved to cease all further acts of criminality and disorder immediately. As with any serious offenders in Northern Ireland, we will pursue those responsible and bring them to justice. "We will now begin our investigation of reviewing all evidence gathered, including video footage, and images of the individuals involved will be released to identify offenders. Do not throw away your future and do not continue to endanger or intimidate the lives of others." Five people were arrested in Ballymena on suspicion of riotous behaviour. A man was also arrested in Newtownabbey, where bins were set on fire. Similar disturbances were reported in Belfast, Lisburn, Coleraine and Carrickfergus. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson described the Ballymena riots as "racist thuggery" that has left ethnic minority residents fearing for their safety. Some locals placed national flags on their homes, hoping to avoid being targeted by roaming masked gangs. Alliance MLA for East Antrim Stewart Dickson condemned the violence as "shameful behaviour" and warned that those responsible will face criminal convictions.
Irish Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Calm restored' following second night of 'mindless violence' in Ballymena
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In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher condemned 'the disgraceful scenes of violence' which broke out on the streets of Ballymena this week. "The mindless violence witnessed over the past two nights in Ballymena is deeply concerning and utterly unacceptable," he said. "These criminal acts not only endanger lives but also risk undermining the ongoing criminal justice process led by the PSNI in support of a victim who deserves truth, justice, and protection. "Ironically, and frustratingly, this violence threatens to derail the very pursuit of justice it claims to challenge. Let me be clear: this behaviour must stop. I appeal to everyone involved to cease all further acts of criminality and disorder immediately. "As with any serious offenders in Northern Ireland, we will pursue those responsible and bring them to justice. We will now begin our investigation of reviewing all evidence gathered, including video footage, and Images of the individuals involved will be released to identify offenders. "Do not throw away your future and do not continue to endanger or intimidate the lives of others. "To those who have been threatened or affected by this violence: we are with you. You deserve safety and justice, and we will find and prosecute those responsible. Hate-fuelled acts and mob rule do nothing but tear at the fabric of our society—they resolve nothing and serve no one." Chief Constable Boutcher continued: "I want to pay the highest tribute to the women and men of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Despite operating under immense financial pressure—far greater than that faced by other public services in Northern Ireland or police forces across the UK and in the Republic of Ireland—our officers continue to display unwavering professionalism, courage, and resolve. 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Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
Seventeen PSNI officers injured after second night of unrest in Ballymena
Seventeen Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers were injured during a second night of unrest in Ballymena, Co Antrim, with some requiring hospital treatment. Five people were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour, the PSNI said in a statement, and remain in police custody. A man was also arrested on suspicion of disorderly behaviour. Calm was restored to the town in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a second night of public disorder. In a statement, the PSNI said calm had been restored in the Clonavon Terrace, North Road and Bridge Street areas by around 1am on Wednesday. The force said there had also been 'sporadic disorder' in Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus, as well incidents in north Belfast. READ MORE Police used water cannon to disperse protesters as petrol bombs and masonry were thrown at officers. Riot police were deployed around the Clonavon Terrace area on Tuesday night as hundreds of people gathered in the Co Antrim town. 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[ 'While I was protecting the front windows, they were kicking the back gate': Distress in Ballymena after night of violence Opens in new window ] Some homes in the area displayed signs about the nationalities of those normally resident, including one saying 'British household' and another with 'Filipino lives here'. As rioters were dispersed into other parts of the town as the evening progressed into night, a property on Bridge Street and a home on Queen Street were set on fire. Multiple cars were also set on fire as part of blazes set by rioters, including near a car wash and tyre centre off Bridge Street and on Larne Street. The PSNI cleared streets and allowed gaps in its barricades for firefighters to tackle fires in the town as chaotic scenes continued past midnight. Officers also used a drone as part of the response to illegal activity, which saw some rioters kick in doors and ransack homes. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher appealed for an immediate stop to the public disorder, saying: 'The mindless violence witnessed over the past two nights in Ballymena is deeply concerning and utterly unacceptable. These criminal acts not only endanger lives but also risk undermining the ongoing criminal justice process led by the PSNI in support of a victim who deserves truth, justice, and protection. 'Ironically, and frustratingly, this violence threatens to derail the very pursuit of justice it claims to challenge. Let me be clear: this behaviour must stop.' Hs said the PSNI would review video footage and images of individuals involved in the incidents would be released to help identify offenders. He added that mutual aid resources would be activated to ensure the PSNI could maintain public order and bring offenders to justice. The Northern Ireland Secretary has said there is 'no justification' for attacks on police officers or vandalism. In a social media post, Hilary Benn said: 'The terrible scenes of civil disorder we have witnessed in Ballymena again this evening have no place in Northern Ireland. 'There is absolutely no justification for attacks on PSNI officers or for vandalism directed at people's homes or property.' It comes after violent disorder on Monday, following an earlier peaceful protest in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the area. Protesters confront police on a second night of unrest in Ballymena, Co Antrim. Photograph:Two 14-year-old boys appeared in court on Monday charged with attempted rape. The charges were read to the teenagers by a Romanian interpreter. On Tuesday the PSNI said it had made a third arrest in connection with the incident and reiterated a public appeal for information. The scenes of violence in Ballymena, which left 15 police injured on Monday, were described as 'racist thuggery' by a senior officer. A number of homes and police vehicles were also damaged during the riotous behaviour. PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the force had a significant operation in place over the coming days. He said: 'We are actively working to identify those responsible for last night's racially motivated disorder in Ballymena and bring them to justice. 'Anyone who has information or who can help identify those responsible is asked to contact police on 101.' A 29-year-old man has been charged with riotous behaviour after being arrested during disorder in Ballymena on Monday night. The man, who is due to appear before Ballymena Magistrates' Court on Thursday, July 3rd, has also been charged with disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police. Mr Henderson said other arrests are expected following the examination of video footage. The British prime minister's official spokesman described the events which saw police and ethnic minorities targeted as 'very concerning'. In Clonavon Terrace several houses had their windows smashed and two suffered significant smoke damage and remained sealed off on Tuesday. Mr Henderson said members of the minority ethnic community 'felt fear' and there would be a significant policing operation in the town in the coming days to reassure the community. As part of ongoing inquiries, police were also investigating a report of arson at the Tobar Park area of Cullybackey in the early hours of Tuesday. Shortly after 12.20am, it was reported that a petrol bomb had been thrown at a vehicle in the area which set it alight. Damage was caused to a nearby property, with a woman and two children inside. ― PA
