
NI race riots: Total number of arrests now stands at 36 as man (26) latest to be charged
Officers from the PSNI's Public Order Enquiry Team investigating the disorder have also charged a 26-year-old man to court.
He has been charged with riot and is due to appear before Coleraine Magistrates' Court on Monday (June 23).
As is usual procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.
Two men, also arrested on Friday, have further been charged; a 42-year-old man arrested for intentionally encouraging or assisting riot and a 54-year-old man charged with riot.
Both appeared before Ballymena Magistrates' Court on Saturday (June 21).
PSNI chief warns rioters 'we will arrest you'
The unrest began on Monday, June 9, in Ballymena.
That night, what started as a vigil for a teenage girl quickly escalated into riots targeting immigrant communities, triggered by the court appearance of two 14-year-old Romanian-speaking boys charged with attempted rape.
Violent scenes unfolded over four consecutive nights across multiple towns: Ballymena, Portadown, Larne, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Derry, and east Belfast.
Rioters targeted immigrant homes and businesses, setting fires and launching petrol bombs, bricks, fireworks, and missiles.
Over 64 officers were injured across Northern Ireland, including 41 in Ballymena and 23 in Portadown.
This unrest forms part of a broader rise in racially motivated hate crimes, which have surged to their highest levels in Northern Ireland since 2004 – 1,188 incidents were recorded from April 2024 to March 2025

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


BreakingNews.ie
12 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Two arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with death of Louth man
Two men have been arrested by detectives investigating the death of a man in Co Armagh. James O'Connor (42) from Co Louth sustained serious head injuries in the Edenappa Road area of Jonesborough on May 31st. Advertisement He died in hospital on June 5th. The two men, aged 28 and 42, were arrested on Wednesday morning on suspicion of manslaughter. The suspects were previously arrested along with another man in connection with the incident. All three were released at that time to allow for further police inquiries to be carried out. PSNI Superintendent Norman Haslett – who is District Commander for Newry, Mourne and Down – said: 'My thoughts are, first and foremost, with Mr O'Connor's family and loved ones who continue to grieve. Advertisement 'Mr O'Connor sustained serious head injuries in the Edenappa Road area of Jonesborough. This was in the early hours of Saturday 31 May. He was taken to hospital, but sadly died from his injuries some days later.' He appealed for any witnesses to the incident to come forward.


Belfast Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
PSNI investigating alleged assault and kidnapping after man found with head injuries
Police are investigating an alleged kidnapping and assault in the early hours of Tuesday after an injured man was found in Banbridge. The PSNI received a report at around 12.05am that the man had been found in the Steens Hill area of the town. Officers and the NI Ambulance Service attended the scene and the man received treatment for head injuries. Belfast History Explained: The Story of the River Farset 'It was alleged that the injured man got into a vehicle in the east Belfast earlier that evening,' Detective Sergeant Robson said. 'We understand the vehicle headed towards the Banbridge area before stopping in a field where three men inside the vehicle assaulted the victim. 'The man made his way towards the Steens Hill area where the alarm was raised. 'An investigation has been launched, with enquiries continuing today. 'Detectives are keen to speak to anyone who was in the Bloomfield Road area of Belfast on Monday evening, 18th August and saw anything out of the ordinary which could assist us.' Police have appealed for anyone with any information to contact them on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.


Daily Record
5 hours ago
- Daily Record
NATO war planes scrambled for second day after latest Russian attack on Ukraine
The attack on oil and port facilities in Izmail, Odesa, was less than one mile from NATO territory. NATO was forced to scramble war planes overnight for the second day in a row as Russia unleashed another wave of devastating strikes on Ukraine, leaving a city in flames and buildings blown to pieces. The attack on oil and port facilities in Izmail, Odesa - less than one mile from NATO territory - has cast major doubt on Vladimir Putin's commitment to peace even as the White House seeks to broker an urgent meeting between the Russian dictator and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, reports the Mirror. The horror strikes hit facilities close to the River Danube, which is the Ukrainian border with allied state Romania. A statement from the Romanian air force said: "Two Typhoon aircraft belonging to the German Air Force [...] were scrambled to monitor the air situation in the border area with Ukraine, in the north of Tulcea County. "The [Romanian] Ministry of National Defence's air surveillance system identified groups of drones launched by the Russian Federation, which attacked Ukrainian ports on the Danube. During the mission, no airborne vehicles were recorded entering national airspace." It is the second time in three days that allied planes have been scrambled in precautionary moves due to the intensity of Russian strikes. The war planes later returned to base. "Close cooperation with allies in enhanced air policing missions strengthens Romania's defence capability and contributes to the deterrence and defence posture on NATO's eastern flank," the statement said. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The attacks came despite Donald Trump's claims that Putin had agreed to peace talks with Volodymyr Zelensky. The US President said he was arranging to get Zelensky and Putin in the same room within two weeks for talks aimed at ending the war. Tump announced the move on Truth Social, saying: "At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelensky. After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself." There were immediate doubts over Putin's sincerity due to both his overnight strikes on Ukraine, and his aide Yury Ushakov failing to specify that the Kremlin leader would personally take part in talks with Zelensky. On Tuesday, Russian attacks on Ukraine saw Tu-95MS strategic bombers unleashing cruise missiles as they flew over the Caspian Sea.