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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Police deploy more officers after Ballymena 'mob violence'
A significant number of extra police officers are being deployed into areas of Northern Ireland affected by two days of violent disorder, police have said. During the violence, the worst of which took place in Ballymena, 32 officers were injured and six people arrested. The disorder began on Monday after a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in the County Antrim town. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the violence was "racist thuggery targeted at ethnic minorities and police officers". The constable said all footage of incidents was being reviewed and prosecutions would come. Police Scotland has agreed to a request to send officers, after police in Northern Ireland requested extra support under mutual aid arrangements. The deployment will involve an undisclosed number of public order officers trained to police civil unrest. The PSNI said they have requested 80 officers in Great Britain. "We're taking steps to increase available resources and are surging a significant number of extra officers, vehicles and equipment to those areas where the rioting is taking place," he said. Analysis: How a peaceful protest descended into hate-filled violence "This will have an impact on our communities. This will take away vital resources needed to police other areas. It will have an impact on our ability to serve communities," he added. "It's hugely important that people realise there are consequences for this." The first protest was organised hours after two teenage boys appeared before Coleraine Magistrates' Court. They spoke through an interpreter in Romanian to confirm their names and ages. Their solicitor said they would be denying the charges. ACC Henderson said many people woke up on Wednesday "feeling genuine fear for their lives and their livelihoods". "This violence only serves to undermine the criminal investigation and cause further distress and turmoil to a young victim and her family," he said. "This violence threatens to derail the very pursuit of justice it claims to challenge." Police said there have also been sporadic incidents of disorder in Carrickfergus, north Belfast and Newtownabbey, where one man was arrested. Homes in north Belfast were damaged with windows smashed on Tuesday night and a number of vehicles were set on fire. The PSNI said the incidents are being treated as racially-motivated hate crimes. One man, 29, has been charged with riotous behaviour, disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police after Monday's violence. The worst of the disorder took place in Ballymena, mainly in the Clonavon Terrace area. Police officers came under sustained attack over a number of hours with multiple petrol bombs, heavy masonry, bricks and fireworks thrown in their direction. ACC Henderson said "the power of social media" is "galvanising" some of the violent behaviour. "We have seen a number of calls over social media for protest activity this evening at various places within Northern Ireland," he said. The constable added that he is "absolutely alert" that "we could see more tonight", but added that "at this stage it's too early to judge". ACC Henderson also said that it is "absolutely of note" that petrol bombs and masonry were thrown at police during Monday and Tuesday night. "There were people who were intent on violence right from the off, so that says to me that there was pre-planning involved from those who wanted to attack us." "A number of other protests, attacks on homes and disorder took place in Belfast Lisburn, Coleraine, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey," he said. Authorised officers discharged a number of Attenuating Energy Projectiles (AEPs) and a water cannon was also deployed in an attempt to disperse the crowds. Some homes have begun displaying stickers outlining the residents' nationalities. Signs which read "British household" and "Filipino lives here" could be seen on some doors. Businesses and homes were attacked and damaged and a number of vehicles were also set on fire in the area. Some homes in Ballymena began to display stickers outlining the residents' nationalities. Signs which read "British household" and "Filipino lives here" could be seen on some doors. A clean-up operation commenced on Wednesday, with debris and burning items being cleared from the roads. Scorch marks and melted bins could be seen on the streets. Mother-of-two Mika Kolev, who lives and works in Ballymena, said she was now fleeing her home with her family and is considering moving back to Bulgaria after her house was damaged in Tuesday's disorder. "We know what's going to happen so it's not possible to wait and see what's going to happen," she said. "I have to save my children, I have to save them." The family was in the process of moving following Monday night's violence. Mika said she watched her home being attacked on social media by "angry children". "This is my house, I pay rent. I feel like this is my country, this is my city. My daughter was born here. It's very scary." Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he "utterly condemns" the violence. First Minister Michelle O'Neill said what was happening in Ballymena was "pure racism, there's no other way to dress it up". Meanwhile, the Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the violence was "serving no purpose whatsoever" and was only damaging communities. The PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher described the disorder as "mindless violence". "These criminal acts not only endanger lives but also risk undermining the ongoing criminal justice process led by the PSNI in support of a victim who deserves truth, justice, and protection."
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Police to significantly increase officer numbers in Ballymena after 'senseless violence'
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.
