NI traffic alerts: M1 ‘likely to remain shut until midday' after livestock lorry overturned
Key updates
Security alert latest
M1 closure expected to last until midday
22 minutes ago
Security alert latest
MLA condemns hoax security alert which forced NI primary school to close
A school has been forced to close in south Belfast as a result of a security alert sparked by a 'hoax device'.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Today 05:50 AM
Gareth Hanna
South Belfast security alert
The public have been advised to avoid the Benmore area in south Belfast due to a security alert. Cordons are in place.
Finaghy Primary School has been closed "on the advice of the PSNI".
An urgent announcement from the school, posted on X, said: "Due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, school will be closed today, Friday 16 May. This is on the advice of the PSNI.
"We apologise for the inconvenience caused. Updates will be issued in due course."
Sinn Féin South Belfast MLA Deirdre Hargey has condemned the security alert.
'I want to condemn those involved in this security alert which is causing disruption and has forced a local school to close," she said. 'I would urge people to avoid the area while the security alert continues."
Finaghy Primary on Twitter / X
URGENT ANNOUNCEMENTDue to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control school will be closed today, Friday 16th May. This is on the advice of PSNI. We apologise for the inconvenience caused. Updates will be issued in due course. pic.twitter.com/7sJwBlwYEB— Finaghy Primary (@Finaghyps) May 16, 2025
External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties.
Today 05:47 AM
Gareth Hanna
M1 closure expected to last until midday
The M1 has been closed in both directions due to an overturned livestock lorry, and the closure is expected to last until around midday. Motorists have been advised to avoid the area. The closures are between junction 13 at Beatties (near Black Island Road turn-off) and junction 12 at the Birches.
Yesterday 04:27 PM
Victoria Steveley
M2 delays leaving Belfast
There are knock-on delays on the M2 north-bound after a four-vehicle crash at J2 Greencastle - while the road has reopened, there are tailbacks to York Street.
Yesterday 12:37 PM
Sarah Harford
Westlink delays
The Westlink is down to two lanes at Grosvenor Road city-bound due to a broken-down horse box in the middle lane.
Yesterday 11:37 AM
Sarah Harford
Dundonald crash
The Comber Road in Dundonald is closed in both directions following a road traffic collision. Drivers are advised to avoid the area and seek an alternative route for their journey.
Yesterday 07:23 AM
Sarah Harford
M1 latest
Six mile tailback as two cars overturn in rush hour crash on M1 outside Lisburn
Emergency services are currently at the scene of a serious multi-vehicle crash on the M1 outside Lisburn.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Yesterday 06:32 AM
Sarah Harford
M1 update
One Belfast-bound lane of the M1 has re-opened following an earlier collision. But tailbacks and delays are expected in the area.
Yesterday 06:15 AM
Sarah Harford
M1 crash
Both Belfast-bound lanes of the M1 are currently closed near the Lisburn Applegreen Services following a road traffic collision. Police said that delays are expected and motorists should seek an alternative route if possible.
Emergency services are in attendance.
Mark Edwards
Crash causing delays on M2 heading into Belfast
There is an ongoing road traffic incident just after Fortwilliam obstructing the inner lanes of the M2
Update: The road traffic incident on the M2 just after Fortwilliam has now been cleared to the hard shoulder. Expect knock on delays.
Trafficwatch NI on Twitter / X
M2 City bound. There is currently an ongoing road traffic incident just after Fortwilliam obstructing the inner lanes.(07:51)— Trafficwatch NI (@TrafficwatchNI) May 14, 2025
Live Blog Software
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Telegraph
Missiles thrown at police as violence breaks out in NI
Missiles were hurled at police officers and houses set on fire following a protest over an alleged sexual assault case in Northern Ireland. The streets of Ballymena town centre, located about 30 miles from Belfast, turned into chaos on Monday night as masked youths attacked police vehicles and threw projectiles at officers, some setting buildings alight and smashing in windows. Footage of the violent scenes captured houses up in flames. In one video, a masked man was seen throwing an object at police vans as a crowd looked on. PSNI riot officers swarmed the streets near Clonavon Terrace to bring the disorder under control, blocking off the area. Local media reported that paint and masonry had been thrown at PSNI Land Rovers. 'A number of missiles have been thrown towards police with damage reported to a number of properties,' a PSNI spokesman said. 'Officers are in attendance to ensure the safety of everyone involved. They will remain in the area tonight to continue to monitor the situation.' The disorder comes after hundreds of protesters gathered in the town centre, following a case involving two teenage boys who appeared before Coleraine Magistrates' Court earlier in the day, accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in the County Antrim town. Irish media outlet RTE News reported that the teenagers, who are Romanian and spoke through an interpreter, cannot be identified because of their ages. A separate police statement from Sunday said two teenage boys had been charged with attempted rape in connection with a serious sexual assault on a teenage girl in Ballymena on Saturday evening. People have been told to avoid the Clonavon Road area until further notice. In a statement, Chief Superintendent Sue Steen urged for locals to 'remain calm and to act responsibly'. 'Violence and disorder will only place people at greater risk,' she said. 'Our priority is to keep the community safe, and I would appeal to everyone to work with us to bring calm to the area as quickly as possible.'
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Riot police sent into Belfast: Petrol bombs thrown after sex crime vigil turned violent
Chaos unfolded in Ballymena, Co Antrim, in Northern Ireland, as 2,500 people gathered to show support for a female who was sexually assaulted. Two teenage boys, both 14, have been arrested and charged with attempted rape Last night, pandemonium broke out in a quiet UK town as what began as a protest against a recent sexual assault spiralled into riots, with irate protestors lobbing petrol bombs at law enforcement. The turmoil took root in Ballymena, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, where an estimated 2,500 people gathered to express their support for the young woman who was assaulted. Two youths aged 14 were apprehended on suspicion of being implicated in the event and have been indicted for attempted rape. Pleading not guilty to the charge of attempted oral rape at Coleraine Magistrates' Court on Monday morning, they relied on a Romanian interpreter for communication. By Monday evening, the situation had escalated dramatically with throngs converging around the Ballymena police station and Clonavon Terrace, in close proximity to where the alleged assault happened on Saturday, June 7. In a statement, a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) representative said: "A number of missiles have been thrown towards police with damage reported to a number of properties. Officers are advising motorists and pedestrians to avoid the Clonavon Road area until further notice.", reports the Mirror. They further stated: "It follows a protest in the area earlier this evening. Officers are in attendance to ensure the safety of everyone involved. They will remain in the area tonight to continue to monitor the situation." Chief Superintendent Sue Steen has called for peace in the midst of turmoil, saying: "We are urging everyone to remain calm and to act responsibly. Violence and disorder will only place people at greater risk. Our priority is to keep the community safe, and I would appeal to everyone to work with us to bring calm to the area as quickly as possible." Riot police were seen arriving in the town centre after 10.30pm, more than an hour after protests turned violent, while firefighters tackled blazes in wheelie bins and worked to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. Social media footage shows large groups wearing masks in front of charred buildings, some with shattered windows. The Northern Ireland Fire Service was dealing with two fires on Clonavon Terrace, where earlier crowds had assembled, around 11.15pm on June 9. Fire service teams are actively extinguishing the fires, and police have been reported to use less-than-lethal baton rounds to manage the crowd hurling projectiles. Alliance councillor Lauren Gray has made a heartfelt request for rioters to cease their actions. On social media, Cllr Gray implored: "Appealing for calm in Ballymena right now. I know through my Council colleagues that the vast majority of people there don't support these actions in their community. "There is no place for violence. Please stop." BelfastLive has reported that "sporadic" rioting went on through the night, with the situation described as "tense". Past midnight, officers succeeded in pushing protestors away from Clonavon Terrace, yet disturbances persisted. By approximately 12:30 am, another house on Larne Street was torched after vandals broke the windows and set fire to the terraced dwelling. Not long after, at around 12:50 am, PSNI riot vans rushed to the area, with officers forcibly entering properties to evacuate residents amidst the chaos as masked onlookers filmed and uploaded footage onto TikTok. A substantial police force is anticipated to stay in Ballymena until Tuesday morning.
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
‘Violence & disorder' with missiles thrown at cops & houses damaged as rioting breaks out in Irish town after protest
RIOTING has broken out in a town in Northern Ireland leading to a significant police presence on the streets to deal with the public disorder. Footage on social media showed armoured police officers carrying plastic shields responding after an anti-immigration protest in Ballymena, Co Antrim. 4 4 The disruption followed a protest of around 2,500 people in the Clonavon Terrace part of the town. The gathering was held after an alleged sexual assault occurred over the weekend. The footage showed people 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. Firefighters later responded to the burning debris on the road and inspected a nearby house which had filled with smoke. Other footage appeared to show some protesters targeting houses by smashing windows. In a statement, the PSNI said: 'A number of missiles have been thrown towards police with damage reported to a number of properties. 'Officers are advising motorists and pedestrians to avoid the Clonavon Road area until further notice.' The statement added: 'Officers are in attendance to ensure the safety of everyone involved. They will remain in the area tonight to continue to monitor the situation.' Chief Superintendent Sue Steen said: 'We are urging everyone to remain calm and to act responsibly. Violence and disorder will only place people at greater risk. 'Our priority is to keep the community safe, and I would appeal to everyone to work with us to bring calm to the area as quickly as possible.' The PSNI asked anyone with information to contact them on 101 or make a report online via Alternatively, information can be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at 4
