Police at scene of ongoing security alert in Belfast
Police are currently at the scene of an ongoing security alerts at Cavehill in north Belfast.
The PSNI has asked the public to avoid the area of the Antrim Road at this time.
Watch: PSNI launch their Operation Lifesaver Campaign
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The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
John Swinney: 'We have shared interest in tackling racist violence'
Some 63 police officers have been injured in what has been called a "week of shame" in Northern Ireland. Mr Swinney made his comments during a press conference following the BIC summit in the Slieve Donard hotel in the seaside resort of Newcastle, County Down, where he was asked about the Police Scotland public order officers who had been sent to help the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). 'I think this is an illustration of how co-operation among police forces is absolutely essential. We have benefited on other occasions from support from PSNI in Scotland, so that availability of mutual aid is important as an asset to be called upon," he said. First Minister John Swinney at the British Irish Council meeting on Friday (Image: Liam McBurney/PA Wire) 'But it also reinforces the point that we all have a shared interest in tackling outbreaks of racism and racist-based violence wherever they take place. 'I'm pleased that Police Scotland have been able to support PSNI in demonstrating the resolve that all of us feel that we must tackle racist violence.' The summit had a focus on artificial intelligence and was co-chaired by First Minister Michelle O'Neill MLA and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly MLA. It was the 43rd meeting of the British-Irish Council (BIC), which was established to promote mutually beneficial development following the Good Friday Agreement. READ MORE: Pensioners backed by Alex Salmond lose legal challenge over winter fuel payment Health secretary Neil Gray faces fresh questions over 'limogate' controversy Police Scotland send 80 officers to Northern Ireland as riots spread Loyalist supremacy, hatred, racism and poverty: I know elements of Ulster riots well Riots started in Ballymena on Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the County Antrim town at the weekend, and continued throughout the week. A number of homes were targeted, and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive has said about 50 households have received assistance across the week, and 14 families provided with emergency accommodation. Disorder in Ballymena raged across Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights, and while it appeared to have abated on Thursday, disorder broke out in Portadown. There have also been incidents in other towns, including the burning of Larne Leisure Centre on Wednesday and an arson attack on a house in Coleraine in the early hours of Friday from which a man and woman, and four young children escaped. It is being treated by police as arson with a racially-motivated hate element. Twenty-two police officers were injured in overnight disorder in Portadown after they came under sustained attack with heavy masonry, fireworks and beer kegs in the County Armagh town on Thursday. READ MORE: Badenoch claims 'Scotland needs Conservatives now more than ever' Kemi-geddon or a fresh start? The mood behind the scenes at Scottish Tory conference Kemi Badenoch: Defectors leaving the Tories for Reform UK is a 'good thing' A woman in her 50s and a man in his 30s were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and other offences in connection with the disorder in Portadown. There was also sporadic disorder elsewhere in Northern Ireland on Thursday night, following mainly peaceful protests, including in the Templemore Avenue area of east Belfast, where bricks were thrown through the windows of two houses in Avoniel Road in what police have called a racially motivated attack. A small fire at the Manse Road roundabout in Newtownabbey was also reported, and anti-immigration hate graffiti is being investigated in Newtownards. Meanwhile, a house fire in the Mount Street area of Coleraine which led to the evacuation of a family with three young children is being treated as deliberate and a racially motivated hate crime. The Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said that since violence erupted in Ballymena on Monday, 63 officers have been injured. Federation chairman Liam Kelly said it has been "a week of shame with appalling levels of unrest in towns and cities". "Burning people out of their homes, attacking a leisure centre, and the specific targeting of individuals and property fuelled by overt racism and prejudice, is totally deplorable," he said. "Yet again, our overstretched police officers have also been attacked with petrol bombs, bricks and fireworks as they sought to keep people safe and maintain law and order. "They have held the line with great courage and professionalism and are owed a debt of gratitude by this community. "They went to the aid of vulnerable people, have prevented further savage attacks and have undoubtedly saved lives." Mr Kelly called for an end to the violence. "This has been a week of shame with hate-filled rioters turning our streets into battle zones, targeting people and property simply because of their perceived nationality or the colour of their skin," he said. "We will continue to police our society without fear or favour, and all persons, irrespective of their background, race, colour or creed, who are engaged in any criminality, should expect to be the subject of our criminal justice processes. "We cannot have sections of our society blatantly disregarding the law and bringing their own twisted version of justice to bear. "As we head into the weekend, I would once again appeal for calm. Bringing violence, fear and uncertainty to our streets is totally unacceptable and must stop. "I would ask all parents to speak with their children, know where they are going in the evenings, and actively encourage them to be civically responsible." Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Jon Boutcher warned on Thursday that his officers would be coming after the "bigots and racists" behind the disorder. He also said that the young girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena had been "further traumatised" by the rioting across the week.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Annie McCarrick: Man arrested over murder released without charge
A man who was arrested on suspicion of murdering an American woman in Ireland more than three decades ago has been released without McCarrick was 26 years old when she disappeared in Dublin in March Irish broadcaster RTÉ has reported that the man who had been questioned about her murder knew Ms McCarrick in the 1990s and is described by Gardaí (Irish police) as an associate who moved in her had been in custody since Thursday morning. Meanwhile, Gardaí have brought a cadaver dog to the scene of searches which are taking place at a house in Dublin in connection with the dogs are trained to detect signs of human dog being used by Gardaí during the searches at the house and garden in the Clondalkin area of Dublin has been borrowed from the PSNI, as Gardaí don't have one of their search teams are also using heavy tools and excavation have stressed that the current residents at the property are not connected in any way with Annie McCarrick or her McCarrick had moved from her home in the United States to live permanently in Ireland prior to her disappearanceHer family is being kept updated about the latest developments and Gardaí have renewed their appeal to anyone with information about the case to come forward to assist their inquiries. Who was Annie McCarrick? Annie McCarrick was the only child of her father John and mother Nancy and was originally from New York, a teenager, she visited Ireland on a school parents have previously described how she fell in love with the country and the way of life, and how upon her return to New York she indicated her intention to return to Ireland to the late 1980s, she completed her third level studies at St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra in Dublin and at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth before returning to New York in 1991, when she completed her studies at Stoney Brook January 1993, the young woman moved to Ireland to live permanently and settled into rental accommodation with two flatmates at Sandymount in months later, when her flatmates had gone home for a weekend, she invited friends around for dinner, but she was not at home when they called to the had been left unpacked in shopping bags, and the young woman has not been seen since that case had been a high-profile missing persons investigation in Ireland for 30 years before it took a significant turn two years ago when it was upgraded to a murder the time of her disappearance, Annie McCarrick was said to be excited and making plans for her mother Nancy's impending visit to Ireland the following week.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Revealed: 'Boastful' Romanian wrongly arrested over 'sexual assault of girl' in Ballymena goes public to protest his innocence and says mob violence has caused his family to flee the country
A Romanian in Ballymena has claimed he has 'lost everything' and his family has been forced to flee abroad after he was wrongly arrested following the alleged attempted rape of a local schoolgirl. The 28-year-old father-of-two named Alex said his home and car were attacked by anti-immigrant rioters while he was in custody and again a second time when he returned home after being released without charge. Two 14-year old boys had earlier appeared in court charged with attempted rape, needing a Romanian interpreter to follow proceedings. Alex claims his family have suffered 'indescribable threats' and 'humiliation' in the past week. He and his wife are in hiding while his mother has taken his two daughters to Romania because they are not safe in Ballymena. But he has apologised after a series of boorish and defiant social media posts, including one where he blew kisses and waved money on camera. In another he appeared dismiss his Audi being destroyed by rioters. On Monday night, following social media speculation, Alex has said he was arrested and questioned in relation to the Ballymena serious sexual assault. He was released unconditionally and without charge by the PSNI. He said in a Facebook post, translated from Romanian: 'I have lost everything because of false accusations. I lost my house where I lived, my car, all my belongings. But the biggest regret is that I lost the chance to offer my children a better future. And all this without having done anything wrong. 'My family and I are not guilty, we all came for a better life, no one wants problems, we are modest people, people who fear God', he added. Alex's Audi was destroyed on his drive and his home attacked twice He has been criticised locally after a series of defiant social media posts since two Romanian teenagers were charged with the alleged sex attack. He has apologised if he offended anyone in Northern Ireland but admitted he can be 'boastful' and likes to be 'centre of attention'. He also says he wants 'justice' for the schoolgirl allegedly attacked by the two teenagers, who deny the charge. In one TikTok reel that emerged after riots began in Ballymena he was shown blowing kisses to the camera before waving a giant wodge of cash outside the town's courthouse following an unrelated matter involving a family member. Critics claimed it was then shared by one of his relatives who made provocative comments. In another social media message, after his Audi was attacked, Alex wrote in Romanian: 'Plenty more fish [in the sea]' over a picture of the smashed up luxury vehicle on his drive. Alex has now publicly defended himself and his family, who he says are 'traumatised' and 'scared' by the riots and multiple attacks on his home. He said: 'I admit I am "boastful". That is my character and I apologise if I upset anyone. It was not my intention'. While he was in custody his home was attacked and his Audi car destroyed in the riots. After his release his house was attacked again, while he was inside, and he hid in the loft before escaping out the back of the house after smashing a hole in his roof. In a Facebook post he also shared on local forums in Ballymena and Northern Ireland, Alex admitted he was the man arrested in relation to the alleged attempted rape of a schoolgirl that has sparked riots this week. The Police Service of Northern Ireland said in a statement, not naming him: 'A 28-year-old man was arrested on Monday June 9. He has been unconditionally released from police custody following questioning'. Describing what happened on Monday, the day of his arrest, he said: 'I learned on social media that there was speculation that I had sexually assaulted a minor. 'On Monday evening, my wife, my five-year-old daughter, and someone who helped us translate showed up at the hospital in Antrim because my daughter wasn't feeling well. 'While waiting, I was filmed against my will and posted on social media, and then a police team showed up and arrested me in front of my wife and daughter. 'I was wrongly accused of being the third person to accuse them of sexual activity with a minor. The police took me to Antrim police station. I was in custody for almost 24 hours'. Alex's long statement on Facebook On Tuesday he said his wife became 'scared' and 'sent my mother and the two little girls to the country (Romania) because they had threatened to break in and kill them'. After he was released from police custody he said his house was attacked while he was inside. 'Shortly after I arrived at my home in Ballymena I heard knocking on doors and windows. 'Screams with indescribable threats. I got scared. I didn't know what was happening I wanted to leave my home but I couldn't I was surrounded by people. 'I climbed into the attic, I broke the roof and I came out through the back of the house and found a safe place'. He went on: 'My wife and my little girls were traumatised, as well as the rest of the family. 'I was wrongly accused and the police did their job. If I did these acts I was accused of I would not be released'. He added that he had video evidence that he was at home with his family all evening when the alleged attempted rape took place. 'I have been living in the UK since 2016 since then I have a job. I imagine what the parents of the girl who was abused is going through. I am also a parent of two girls and I can't imagine what I would have done to get justice. He added: 'I apologise to everyone. I hope justice is done'. Fifteen rioters have been arrested as 41 police officers were injured amid unrest in Northern Ireland following the alleged sexual assault of a girl by Romanian teens. Rioting continued for the fourth consecutive night. Terrified foreign nationals are now considering fleeing the province amid rioting in a bid to protect their families. Maria, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, said: 'Why do they attack us? What did we do?' The tearful Romanian, 38, added: 'I don't want to run, cause I did nothing bad... '[But] when I go in the street people are looking at us very bad... they blame me... When they say go home, I say, home is here for me.' Missiles were also thrown at officers after a protest in Portadown on Thursday, continuing a trend that was sparked earlier in the week in Ballymena. Around 400 protestors are understood to have gathered in the County Armagh town where people were seen setting fires and causing damage to a derelict building. Three teenagers also appeared in court yesterday in connection with recent riots. Police and politicians have denounced the ongoing violence within the community, which has been dubbed 'racist thuggery'. Northern Ireland's police chief said those being targeted 'are not criminals', noting their positive impact on society, describing them as 'valued members of society'. However as tensions continue, in an unprecedented move, some households have begun to display British or Northern Irish flags in their windows. Blanka Harnagea, who has lived with her family in the region for five years, said the flags served as a kind of 'protection' amid the unrest. 'We put (the flags) as a sign of peace... to say that we are not against them,' said the 38-year-old originally from the Czech Republic. The mother-of-five, who is considering leaving, said: 'We are a bit worried they keep going on because some people said that they are not gonna stop until everybody who is not from Ireland has left.'
