Police urge calm after ‘shocking' disorder in Northern Ireland
Public disorder broke out in Ballymena, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland, following a protest over an alleged sexual assault case.
Petrol bombs, fireworks and bricks were thrown at police, and properties were torched during the riots.
The unrest began as a peaceful vigil before a number of masked people broke away and began to build barricades and attack properties, police say.
Justice Minister Naomi Long condemned the violence, while North Antrim MP Jim Allister linked the 'distressing' unrest to growing tensions over immigration.
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the 'shocking scenes of disorder on the streets of Ballymena have to be condemned in the strongest terms', and urged calm.
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Sky News
43 minutes ago
- Sky News
Ballymena riots latest: Fire started 'after vandalism' at leisure centre as disorder breaks out for third night in row in N Ireland
21:47:04 Leisure centre on fire 'temporarily housed people from Ballymena' Reports in Ireland suggest the leisure centre said to be targeted by vandals tonight - see 20.59 - may have housed people moved from Ballymena, though this has not been verified. DUP politician Gordon Lyons posted on Facebook earlier today "a number of individuals were temporarily moved to Larne Lesiure Centre... following disturbances in Ballymena". "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," he added. "Protesting is of course a legitimate right but violence is not and I would encourage everyone to remain peaceful." The Irish Independent said it is understood there is nobody currently inside the Leisure Centre. 21:14:01 'Force will be used against violent individuals', police warn crowd In Ballymena, police have gathered to deter any rioters planing disorder for a third night in a row. Our team is there now, where a crowd has been told to move away. A warning played via speakers tells them they should be "dispersed immediately". It then warns "force will be used against violent individuals". 20:59:56 Fire breaks out in town east of Ballymena A fire has reportedly broken out at a leisure centre in another town in the same county as Ballymena. Footage on social media shows masked individuals smashing windows and setting fires outside in Larne. The map below shows where Larne is, about 20 miles east of Ballymena in County Antrim. Local Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly said the leisure centre "has been attacked by masked thugs". "Windows smashed and fires lit nearby," he posted on social media. "Larne does not need this." 20:59:01 In pictures: Police brace for further rioting More pictures now from the scene in Ballymena, where police are preparing for another night of rioting. 20:46:01 Entire rows of houses displaying 'locals live here' signs We've already brought you reports of residents in Ballymena displaying signs in their windows about their nationality - in an attempt to avoid rioters targeting their homes. Now, our team on the ground bring us pictures of entire rows of homes displaying signs. Our correspondent Connor Gillies explains that these signs look organised, as they are all of the same design, printed on yellow paper with black lettering in caps saying "Locals live here". Some homes with the signs in their windows also have the Northern Irish flag or the Union flag, too. 20:30:01 More police arrive with shields and helmets We reported in the post below that the police presence in Ballymena is growing. The picture below, from the last few minutes, gives you an idea of the units now taking formation. Several vans have arrived, blocking off a street as more officers line up equipped with riot gear. 20:16:48 Significant police presence in Ballymena A brief update from Connor Gillies, our reporter on the ground in Northern Ireland. He says he's just arrived in Ballymena for the evening, where there is a significant police presence. We'll bring you more updates as we get them. 20:09:01 'I deplore the thuggery' More political reaction now, with former SDLP leader Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick reacting to the violence. She said earlier: "I deplore the thuggery and the racist violence in Ballymena over the last two days, where there were attacks on the police service of Northern Ireland and on ethnic minorities." Violence condemned 'unequivocally' DUP peer Lord Weir of Ballyholme added: "Can I join with others in commending the efforts and the bravery of the police and the other emergency services in dealing [with the] situation of the last 48 hours, and also unreservedly and unequivocally condemn the violence that has taken place in Ballymena. "Whatever the underlying issues that are there in Ballymena, nothing can ever justify the thuggery that is being perpetrated there." 19:45:01 Aftermath of 'ugly' night of 'racially motivated' violence - and how it all began Police say the violence this week in Ballymena is "clearly racially motivated". Connor Gillies explains it all began with a vigil for a teenage girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault. Two teenage boys, from Romania, have appeared in court connected to that investigation. Officers say the vigil was hijacked by a planned anti-immigration mob. Watch below as Gillies runs through the origins of the riots, and looks at the homes devastated by violence.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
‘Masked thugs' start fire at leisure centre on third night of violence in Northern Ireland
A group of masked individuals have set fire to a leisure centre in the latest night of violence in Northern Ireland. A fire broke out at Larne Leisure Centre in Co Antrim on Wednesday following vandalism at the facility. The attack coincided with a third night of public disorder in the town of Ballymena, 30 minutes away from Larne. Local Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly said in a social media post: 'Larne leisure centre has been attacked by masked thugs. 'Windows smashed and fires lit nearby. Larne does not need this.'
BreakingNews.ie
an hour ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Fire at leisure centre on third night of disorder in Northern Ireland
A fire broke out at Larne Leisure Centre following vandalism at the facility during several nights of disorder in Northern Ireland. Masked individuals smashed windows at the leisure centre in Co Antrim on Wednesday and set fires outside which spread inside. Advertisement The attack coincided with a third night of public disorder in the town of Ballymena, 30 minutes away from Larne. Larne leisure centre has been attacked by masked thugs. Windows smashed and fires lit nearby. Larne does not need this. — Danny Donnelly MLA (@DannyDonnelly1) June 11, 2025 Local Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly said in a social media post: 'Larne leisure centre has been attacked by masked thugs. 'Windows smashed and fires lit nearby. Larne does not need this.' The PSNI deployed riot police in Ballymena for a third night as a significant crowd gathered around the Clonavon Terrace area. Advertisement Demonstrators who gathered on Bridge Street near the residential area were told to disperse shortly before 9pm after a firework was thrown at officers. Riot police block a road close to Clonavon Terrace in Ballymena on Wednesday night (Jonathan McCambridge/PA) Officers also used dog units and drones in their response to the gathering. Riot police with shields advanced on the crowd to disperse them. Missiles were thrown at officers in the Clonavon Terrace area on Wednesday night. Advertisement Earlier, a senior officer said the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had requested support from colleagues in the UK following further violence in Ballymena. PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the force would be bringing extra officers, vehicles and equipment to areas where unrest has flared. He said there were disgraceful scenes in Belfast, Lisburn, Coleraine, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey on Tuesday, as businesses, homes and cars were attacked and damaged. By Wednesday, six individuals had been arrested for public order offences, and one charged. Advertisement Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he 'utterly condemns' violence which left 32 police officers injured after the second night of disturbances. PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has warned that 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. Providing an update on the policing operation on Wednesday, Mr Henderson said: 'We are taking steps to increase available resources and are surging a significant number of extra officers, vehicles and equipment to those areas where the rioting is taking place. Advertisement 'This will have an impact on our community, this will take away vital resources needed to police other areas.' A second night of violence took place in Ballymena (Niall Carson/PA) He said they have requested about 80 officers through mutual aid. Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons, Sir Keir condemned the 'mindless attacks' against police. 'I utterly condemn the violence that we have seen overnight in Ballymena and in other parts of Northern Ireland, including against PSNI officers,' Sir Keir told MPs. 'It's absolutely vital that the PSNI are given the time they need to investigate the incidents concerned rather than face mindless attacks as they seek to bring peace and order to keep people safe.' In a joint statement, ministers from across the Stormont powersharing Executive, which includes Sinn Fein, DUP, Alliance Party and UUP, said those involved in disorder have nothing to offer society but 'division and disorder'. First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly later appeared together to voice their condemnation. Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly speak to media at the Ulster Hall in Belfast on Wednesday (David Young/PA) Sinn Féin vice-president Ms O'Neill told reporters in Belfast: 'It's pure racism, there is no other way to dress it up.' She said ministers stood full-square with the young girl who was subject to the alleged sex attack but added the criminal justice system must be allowed to deal with that case. 'Separate to that is the racism that we're seeing… people being firebombed out of their homes, people having their doors knocked in, having their windows being smashed, families being intimidated,' Ms O'Neill added. 'That is absolutely unacceptable and everything that needs to be done to bring it to an end is our focus in terms of the engagement we have with the PSNI.' Ms Little-Pengelly described the scenes in Ballymena as 'unacceptable thuggery', adding: 'We've been in contact with the chief constable, and in constant contact with the PSNI throughout last night in terms of what was happening on the ground. 'I think today is about sending a very clear message that violence is wrong, it is entirely unacceptable. It must stop.' Rioters attacked police in Ballymena on Tuesday night (Niall Carson/PA) 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. Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly (third right) during a visit to Clonavon Terrace (Niall Carson/PA) Police said their officers came under sustained attack over a number of hours with multiple petrol bombs, heavy masonry, bricks and fireworks thrown in their direction in the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena on Tuesday night. The PSNI deployed riot police, fired plastic baton rounds, and used water cannon as well as dog units as part of its response to the disorder. Police also reported that 'sporadic disorder' had also occurred in Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus, as well as incidents in north Belfast. The violence began around Clonavon Terrace 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.
