Police to significantly increase officer numbers in Ballymena after 'senseless violence'

BBC News

3 days ago

Update:
Date: 16:12 BST
Title: Police requested from Great Britain
Content: A process known as mutual aid allows police forces to request assistance from elsewhere in the country.
ACC Henderson says he has activated a request for mutual aid from colleagues in Great Britain.
He says this will allow PSNI officers to get some rest.
Update:
Date: 16:11 BST
Title: 'Important to hear message against violence'
Content: The senior police officer says he has heard condemnation of the violence from across the political spectrum.
He says it is important that people come together and put across the message that the disorder cannot continue.
Update:
Date: 16:10 BST
Title: People rioting are mostly from 'local area'
Content: He says that the people rioting are from their "local area."
He appeals for people with influence to be able to help take young people away from the disorder.
ACC Henderson adds that people may have travelled to Ballymena due to it being "advertised" on social media, but most of those involved in disorder are from the town.
Update:
Date: 16:07 BST
Title: Possibility of more violence
Content: He says his 30 years' experience in policing means he is aware there could be more violence tonight.
He adds the police are prepared for that eventuality.
Update:
Date: 16:06 BST
Title: Social media activity
Content: ACC Henderson says there have been many calls on social media for what he calls "protest activity".
He says there have been peaceful protestors who have acted within the law and complied with police instructions.
But he adds that others have been violent.
He says police will respect people's right to protest peacefully but will be ready to respond to violence.
Update:
Date: 16:05 BST
Title: Protest 'peacefully and lawfully'
Content: ACC Henderson is urging people to protest "peacefully and lawfully".
He adds people should be aware that "others may use your peaceful intention as a cover for their own violent agenda".
Update:
Date: 16:03 BST
Title: 'Criminals should not be louder than us'
Content: The senior police officer is calling for the public to "loudly condemn this criminal behaviour".
"These criminals should not be louder than us" he adds.
Update:
Date: 16:02 BST
Title: 'Significant increase in officers'
Content: ACC Henderson calls on people to think about how the violence is helping the ongoing criminal investigation into the alleged sexual assault.
He says there will be a significant increase in the number of officers and vehicles being deployed to Ballymena.
This, ACC Henderson adds, is taking resources away from other areas.
Update:
Date: 16:01 BST
Title: 'Senseless violence'
Content: ACC Henderson says "this senseless violence is utterly unacceptable".
He adds that in his eyes the violence "serves to only endanger lives and destroy our local area, our local communities".
Update:
Date: 16:00 BST
Title: ACC Henderson praises police officers
Content: The press conference has begun and Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson has praised the "bravery and professionalism" of the police officers who have been deployed in Ballymena.
"Those officers come form our communities, to work for our communities and to make a difference for our communities." he says.
Update:
Date: 15:55 BST
Title: What have police previously said about the violence?
Content: Yesterday ACC Henderson described the disorder as
"racist thuggery, pure and simple", saying it was targeted at ethnic
minorities and law enforcement.
"The fact that they had some weaponry ready to throw at
police would say to me that there was some degree of pre-planning from those
involved," he said.
ACC Henderson added there would be more arrests to follow
and his officers are working to identify those responsible, examining video and
online footage.
Update:
Date: 15:52 BST
Title: Why can't I watch the police press conference live?
Content: The Police Service of Northern Ireland has asked the media not to stream the press conference live.
We'll be able to report what is being said but you won't be able to watch it in real time.
Update:
Date: 15:47 BST
Title: What has been happening in Ballymena?
Content: The
first protest on Monday evening was organised hours after two 14-year-old boys appeared
before Coleraine Magistrates' Court accused of a serious sexual assault on a
teenage girl.
Both boys are charged with attempted oral rape and both deny
the charges.
They confirmed their names and ages through a Romanian
interpreter at Coleraine Magistrates' Court.
That evening hundreds of people gathered in Ballymena
at a peaceful protest that was related to the ongoing court case.
A short time later, however, violence broke out after people
wearing masks began to build barricades and attack properties on Clonavon
Terrace.
There were similar scenes in the County Antrim town last night.
PSNI officers fired baton rounds and used a water cannon to disperse protesters as cars were set on fire and the windows of several houses were smashed.
Five people were arrested and a further 17 officers were injured, bringing the total to 32.
Police said they also dealt with sporadic incidents of disorder in Newtownabbey, where a man was arrested, and Carrickfergus in County Antrim and north Belfast.
Update:
Date: 15:39 BST
Title: Police to give update on disorder in Ballymena
Content: The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is due to give
an update on the ongoing disorder in Ballymena and other areas of Northern Ireland.
It follows two nights of violent scenes where petrol bombs,
bricks and fireworks were thrown – injuring 32 police officers.
The disorder began on Monday after a peaceful protest over
an alleged sexual assault in the County Antrim market town, which is about 30
miles outside of Belfast.
ACC Ryan Henderson is about to deliver a press conference at
PSNI HQ in Belfast.