PSNI use water cannon in Ballymena after petrol bombs thrown at officers
Riot police were deployed around the Clonavon Terrace area on Tuesday night as hundreds of people gathered in the Co Antrim town.
PSNI vehicles formed barricades on some roads while riot police wearing armour and carrying shields also responded to the disorder.
Some protesters shouted abuse and threw objects at the police, including fireworks, glass bottles and pieces of metal.
A car was set on fire near a car wash and tyre centre as part of a number of blazes started by protesters.
Police fired plastic baton rounds at some of those gathered and also used water cannons to disperse the crowd.
Multiple house windows were smashed during the unrest and the clothing of at least one protester caught fire during the disorder.
A vehicle on fire near Clonavon Terrace, Ballymena (Niall Carson/PA)
Many young children were present among those gathered near police lines.
Repeatedly using water cannons, PSNI – accompanied by dog units – moved protesters away from Clonavon Terace towards the junction of Bridge Street and North Street near a mural of King William.
Some homes in the area displayed signs about the nationalities of those normally resident, including one saying 'British household' and another with 'Filipino lives here'.
It comes after violent disorder on Monday, following an earlier peaceful protest in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the area.
A number of homes and police vehicles were damaged during the riotous behaviour.
The scenes of violence in Ballymena, which left 15 police injured on Monday, were described as 'racist thuggery' by a senior officer.
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the force had a significant operation in place over the coming days.
He said: 'We are actively working to identify those responsible for last night's racially motivated disorder in Ballymena and bring them to justice.
'Anyone who has information or who can help identify those responsible is asked to contact police on 101.'
A 29-year-old man has been charged with riotous behaviour after being arrested during disorder in Ballymena on Monday night.
The man, who is due to appear before Ballymena Magistrates' Court on Thursday July 3, has also been charged with disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police.
Police officers using a water cannon near Clonavon Terrace (Niall Carson/PA)
Mr Henderson said other arrests are expected following the examination of video footage.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman described the events which saw police and ethnic minorities targeted as 'very concerning'.
In Clonavon Terrace, several houses had their windows smashed and two which suffered significant smoke damage remained sealed off on Tuesday.
The violence flared following an earlier peaceful protest in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the town at the weekend.
Two 14-year-old boys appeared in court on Monday charged with attempted rape. The charges were read to the teenagers by a Romanian interpreter.
On Tuesday, the PSNI said it had made a third arrest in connection with the incident and reiterated a public appeal for information.
Detective Inspector Olphert from the PSNI's public protection branch said: 'A 28-year-old man was arrested yesterday evening, Monday June 9.
'He has been unconditionally released from police custody following questioning.'
Mr Henderson said the attacks should be 'loudly condemned by all right-thinking people'.
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson speaking to the media following a protest in Ballymena (Jonathan McCambridge/PA)
'Any attempt to justify or explain it as something else is misplaced,' he said at a press conference at Ballymena police station earlier on Tuesday.
He said members of the minority ethnic community 'felt fear' and there will be a significant policing operation in the town in the coming days to reassure the community.
'I would strongly urge anyone who was involved in yesterday's disorder to reflect long and hard about their actions, they will have consequences,' he said.
Mr Henderson said that police officers from England and Wales will be brought to Northern Ireland if needed to help the PSNI in the wake of the Ballymena disorder.
A damaged property in Clonavon Terrace in Ballymena (Jonathan McCambridge/PA)
As part of ongoing inquiries, police are also investigating a report of arson at the Tobar Park area of Cullybackey in the early hours of Tuesday.
Shortly after 12.20am, it was reported that a petrol bomb had been thrown at a vehicle in the area which set it alight.
Damage was caused to a nearby property, with a woman and two children inside.
Downing Street said there could be no justification for the violence in Ballymena.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The disorder we saw in Ballymena is very concerning.
'Obviously, the reports of sexual assault in the area are extremely distressing, but there is no justification for attacks on police officers while they continue to protect local communities.
'PSNI and the justice system must be allowed to carry out their jobs and our thoughts are with the victims of the assault as well as the police officers who were injured.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Police come under attack for fifth night in Northern Ireland
Petrol bombs were thrown at riot police deployed in Portadown on Friday night after a senior officer said there would be 'scaled up' policing presence across Northern Ireland in anticipation of further disorder over the weekend. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the mobilisation, which would include officers sent over from Scotland, was 'to reassure our communities and protect our streets'. Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill speaking during the British-Irish Council (BIC) summit at the Slieve Donard resort in Co Down (Liam McBurney/PA) Disorder started in Ballymena on Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the Co Antrim town at the weekend, and continued throughout the week. The unrest and riotous behaviour spread to other towns including Larne, Belfast and Coleraine. 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. The focus of the violence shifted to Portadown on Thursday and continued on Friday – although at a lower intensity than scenes observed earlier in the week. Sixty-three police officers have been injured in the sustained disorder which led political leaders to call for calm during a meeting of the British Irish Council in Newcastle, Co Down, on Friday. A person wearing a Union flag stands near armed police in Portadown in Co Armagh (Brian Lawless/PA) First Minister Michelle O'Neill said everyone is condemning the disorder and calling for it to stop. 'What we have seen over the last four days has been devastation, has been horrific for those people targeted – this is women and children, these are families, at the brunt of racist, violent attacks, and it is wrong on every level,' she said. 'The whole of the Executive is united on that front.' Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly described a 'difficult time for Northern Ireland' with 'disgraceful scenes of violent disorder', and said her thoughts are with the residents of the areas affected. Additional police officers from Scotland will support the Police Service of Northern Ireland after a mutual aid request. Damaged property at Clonavon Terrace, Ballymena (Jonathan McCambridge/PA) Scottish First Minister John Swinney said it was an illustration of how cooperation between police forces is 'absolutely essential'. While disorder in Ballymena raged across Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night, it appeared to have abated on Thursday. However, there was still disorder 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. A police officer at the scene after an attack on Larne Leisure Centre (Liam McBurney/PA) 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 Co Armagh town on Thursday. 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. Youths in Portadown in Co Armagh on Thursday (Brian Lawless/PA) 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.' 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 at the weekend had been 'further traumatised' by the rioting across the week.
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Police come under attack for fifth night in Northern Ireland
Petrol bombs were thrown at riot police deployed in Portadown on Friday night after a senior officer said there would be 'scaled up' policing presence across Northern Ireland in anticipation of further disorder over the weekend. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the mobilisation, which would include officers sent over from Scotland, was 'to reassure our communities and protect our streets'. Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill speaking during the British-Irish Council (BIC) summit at the Slieve Donard resort in Co Down (Liam McBurney/PA) Disorder started in Ballymena on Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the Co Antrim town at the weekend, and continued throughout the week. The unrest and riotous behaviour spread to other towns including Larne, Belfast and Coleraine. 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. The focus of the violence shifted to Portadown on Thursday and continued on Friday – although at a lower intensity than scenes observed earlier in the week. Sixty-three police officers have been injured in the sustained disorder which led political leaders to call for calm during a meeting of the British Irish Council in Newcastle, Co Down, on Friday. A person wearing a Union flag stands near armed police in Portadown in Co Armagh (Brian Lawless/PA) First Minister Michelle O'Neill said everyone is condemning the disorder and calling for it to stop. 'What we have seen over the last four days has been devastation, has been horrific for those people targeted – this is women and children, these are families, at the brunt of racist, violent attacks, and it is wrong on every level,' she said. 'The whole of the Executive is united on that front.' Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly described a 'difficult time for Northern Ireland' with 'disgraceful scenes of violent disorder', and said her thoughts are with the residents of the areas affected. Additional police officers from Scotland will support the Police Service of Northern Ireland after a mutual aid request. Damaged property at Clonavon Terrace, Ballymena (Jonathan McCambridge/PA) Scottish First Minister John Swinney said it was an illustration of how cooperation between police forces is 'absolutely essential'. While disorder in Ballymena raged across Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night, it appeared to have abated on Thursday. However, there was still disorder 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. A police officer at the scene after an attack on Larne Leisure Centre (Liam McBurney/PA) 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 Co Armagh town on Thursday. 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. Youths in Portadown in Co Armagh on Thursday (Brian Lawless/PA) 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.' 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 at the weekend had been 'further traumatised' by the rioting across the week.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Chilling last CCTV sighting of Brit before he vanished from holiday Airbnb
Denis Kopanev, 33, was wearing a dark-coloured baseball cap, a white shirt, and a matching beige jacket and trousers when he left his holiday let in Rio de Janeiro on Monday A British tourist who mysteriously vanished from his Airbnb while on holiday in Brazil was last seen leaving the property on CCTV. Denis Kopanev left his accommodation on Monday and hasn't been seen or heard from since. CCTV cameras filmed him leaving the home wearing beige jacket and trousers, a dark baseball cap, and a white shirt. He also appeared to carry a small bag. The last-known footage of the holidaymaker has been since shared on social media by Brazil media. The 33-year-old, who is Russian with British citizenship, was staying at a condominium in the trendy neighbourhood of Gávea in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Friends and family members have not heard from him since Monday. Denis, who works as a financial analyst in London, was supposed to travel to São Paulo the following day to meet an American friend. They were then planning to travel together to Fernando de Noronha, a volcanic archipelago about 215 miles off Brazil's north-eastern coast. The last location on his phone was at the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon near his accommodation in Rio. Denis never checked out of the property and his passport and belongings were left in the room. His disappearance was registered at the police station on Wednesday. According to his best friend Benone Moura, Denis loved Brazil and visited the country often, including as recently as six months ago. The friend said he never travelled without letting his friends and family know beforehand. Moura said he last spoke with him at around 5pm on Sunday. Family members contacted the British Embassy and filed a report, but have yet to receive any news. The case is being investigated by the Rio de Janeiro Whereabouts Discovery Unit (DDPA). Denis isn't the first Brit to go missing in Brazil in recent months. Journalist Charlotte Alice Peet, 32, was missing for four months, before she was found in a São Paulo hostel, when it was reported that she had admitted she didn't want to be in contact with her family, and the case was then closed by the local authorities. She is said to have told a pal she was in São Paulo on February 8, and planning to go to Rio de Janeiro, before her family stopped hearing from her, and quickly reported her missing. She was located by authorities using data from her phone.
