Latest news with #JonathanMcCambridge
The Journal
a day ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Leisure centre in Larne set alight by rioters as violence extends beyond Ballymena
LAST UPDATE | 20 mins ago A LEISURE CENTRE in Larne in Northern Ireland has been set on fire by rioters as violence seen in Ballymena over the last two nights spreads to other areas. Footage shared online shows masked individuals smashing windows and setting fires outside Larne Leisure Centre. The fire has since been brought under control, according to the local fire service. Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly said: 'Larne does not need this.' Police have been deployed for a third night in a row in Ballymena. The Belfast Telegraph has reported that police are also at the scene of disorder in Coleraine , where footage online has shown bins set alight near a train track. Larne leisure centre has been attacked by masked thugs. Windows smashed and fires lit nearby. Larne does not need this. — Danny Donnelly MLA (@DannyDonnelly1) June 11, 2025 Ulster Unionist Party MLA John Stewart described the events in Larne as 'despicable and disgraceful' 'The violence, vandalism, and intimidation seen this evening have absolutely no place in our society,' Stewart said. Advertisement He said the leisure centre is a 'vital community asset at the very heart of Larne' and that 'to see it targeted in such a senseless and deliberate manner is both truly shocking and deeply saddening'. Riot police have been deployed to different parts of Antrim, including in Larne (pictured) this evening. Alamy Alamy The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has deployed riot police in Ballymena for the third consecutive night as a significant crowd gathered around the Clonavon Terrace area. Demonstrators who gathered on Bridge Street near the residential area were told to disperse shortly before 9pm after a firework was thrown at officers. Petrol bombs and fireworks, as well as other projectiles, have been thrown at police this evening. Earlier today, the PSNI requested assistance from police forces in Britain following the violence in Ballymena over the last two nights. The PSNI said 17 officers were injured, and six people were arrested last night, after violent disorder erupted for a second night in a row. Multiple cars and properties were set on fire while rioters hurled petrol bombs, fireworks and masonry at police officers. Riot police block a road close to Clonavon Terrace in Ballymena this evening Jonathan McCambridge / PA Jonathan McCambridge / PA / PA Alongside the injuring of police officers, much of the violence has been targeted at homes that rioters believe to belong to people from eastern European countries. Related Reads PSNI seeks reinforcements from Britain as Starmer condemns 'mindless' Ballymena violence I went to talk to people in Ballymena, and was told to make myself 'scarce' or there'd be trouble On Monday, two teenage boys appeared in court charged with the sexual assault of a young teenage girl. The two teenagers spoke through a Romanian translator. The Journal has documented some of the damage done by rioters in Ballymena, including to the home of a Bulgarian man who was targeted, a neighbouring home where the window of a child's bedroom was smashed in, and a home belonging to Filipinos who had to leave because of the extensive damage. On Clonavon Terrace, where four homes were burnt on Monday night, a Romanian teenager told The Journal that the rioters claim to be fighting for the victim of the alleged sexual assault but they're 'just destroying their own town'. 'Where is the justice for this poor girl? This isn't justice for her, this is just racism destroying where we live,' the teenager said. A pram and wheelchair outside the smashed window of a child's bedroom in Ballymena Diarmuid Pepper / The Journal Diarmuid Pepper / The Journal / The Journal Additional reporting by Press Association Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Romanian mother ‘afraid' to stay in Ballymena street after violent attack
The mother-of-three said her children were asking why their house was being attacked during disturbances in the Co Antrim town on Monday night Several properties were damaged on Clonavon Terrace in attacks which police have described as 'racist thuggery' (Jonathan McCambridge/PA) A Romanian mother who lives in one of the houses attacked during violence in Ballymena said she had been left too scared to stay in the area. The mother-of-three said her children were asking why their house was being attacked during disturbances in the Co Antrim town on Monday night. Several properties were damaged on Clonavon Terrace in attacks which police have described as 'racist thuggery'. The violence followed an earlier protest in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the town at the weekend. Damaged property at Clonavon Terrace, Ballymena (Jonathan McCambridge/PA) 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. The PA news agency spoke to a number of residents of houses in the street on Tuesday who said they now intended to leave the area. The woman from Romania, who said she was too afraid to give her name, said she tried to flee her house after the front window was broken. She said: 'The children were asking me why are we being attacked. 'I don't want to stay here now, the children are afraid and I am afraid.' A Romanian man said he had lived in the area for 15 years. He said: 'We don't even know why this happened to us. Several properties were damaged on Clonavon Terrace in attacks which police have described as 'racist thuggery' (Jonathan McCambridge/PA) News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday June 10 'The riots started last night. We didn't expect it to come to our house. 'We tried to get out of the house and go to a safe place. 'I have lived here 15 years. Everything else has been nice, everything has been OK. 'I have so many friends in Ballymena, I have got so much support. 'Everyone was texting and asking us if we are OK, if we are safe, if they can do anything for us.' He added: 'I am lucky because the damage here is not too bad, but my sister has three kids, I have a little girl. 'We are going to live in a friend's house for a while and then try to move out of here.' He said: 'I like to believe I am a Ballymena man now, I have been living here half of my life. 'I understand if people want to protest but it did not have to be like this. 'We should not have to pay the price.'
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Romanian mother ‘afraid' to stay in Ballymena street after attack
The mother-of-three said her children were asking why their house was being attacked during disturbances in the Co Antrim town on Monday night. Several properties were damaged on Clonavon Terrace in attacks which police have described as 'racist thuggery'. The violence followed an earlier protest in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the town at the weekend. Damaged property at Clonavon Terrace, Ballymena (Jonathan McCambridge/PA) 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. The PA news agency spoke to a number of residents of houses in the street on Tuesday who said they now intended to leave the area. The woman from Romania, who said she was too afraid to give her name, said she tried to flee her house after the front window was broken. She said: 'The children were asking me why are we being attacked. 'I don't want to stay here now, the children are afraid and I am afraid.' A Romanian man said he had lived in the area for 15 years. He said: 'We don't even know why this happened to us. 'The riots started last night. We didn't expect it to come to our house. 'We tried to get out of the house and go to a safe place. 'I have lived here 15 years. Everything else has been nice, everything has been OK. 'I have so many friends in Ballymena, I have got so much support. 'Everyone was texting and asking us if we are OK, if we are safe, if they can do anything for us.' He added: 'I am lucky because the damage here is not too bad, but my sister has three kids, I have a little girl. 'We are going to live in a friend's house for a while and then try to move out of here.' He said: 'I like to believe I am a Ballymena man now, I have been living here half of my life. 'I understand if people want to protest but it did not have to be like this. 'We should not have to pay the price.'
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
Romanian mother ‘afraid' to stay in Ballymena street after attack
Several properties were damaged on Clonavon Terrace in attacks which police have described as 'racist thuggery'. The violence followed an earlier protest in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the town at the weekend. Damaged property at Clonavon Terrace, Ballymena (Jonathan McCambridge/PA) 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. The PA news agency spoke to a number of residents of houses in the street on Tuesday who said they now intended to leave the area. The woman from Romania, who said she was too afraid to give her name, said she tried to flee her house after the front window was broken. She said: 'The children were asking me why are we being attacked. 'I don't want to stay here now, the children are afraid and I am afraid.' A Romanian man said he had lived in the area for 15 years. He said: 'We don't even know why this happened to us. 'The riots started last night. We didn't expect it to come to our house. 'We tried to get out of the house and go to a safe place. 'I have lived here 15 years. Everything else has been nice, everything has been OK. 'I have so many friends in Ballymena, I have got so much support. 'Everyone was texting and asking us if we are OK, if we are safe, if they can do anything for us.' He added: 'I am lucky because the damage here is not too bad, but my sister has three kids, I have a little girl. 'We are going to live in a friend's house for a while and then try to move out of here.' He said: 'I like to believe I am a Ballymena man now, I have been living here half of my life. 'I understand if people want to protest but it did not have to be like this. 'We should not have to pay the price.'
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Romanian mother ‘afraid' to stay in Ballymena street after attack
The mother-of-three said her children were asking why their house was being attacked during disturbances in the Co Antrim town on Monday night. Several properties were damaged on Clonavon Terrace in attacks which police have described as 'racist thuggery'. The violence followed an earlier protest in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the town at the weekend. Damaged property at Clonavon Terrace, Ballymena (Jonathan McCambridge/PA) 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. The PA news agency spoke to a number of residents of houses in the street on Tuesday who said they now intended to leave the area. The woman from Romania, who said she was too afraid to give her name, said she tried to flee her house after the front window was broken. She said: 'The children were asking me why are we being attacked. 'I don't want to stay here now, the children are afraid and I am afraid.' A Romanian man said he had lived in the area for 15 years. He said: 'We don't even know why this happened to us. 'The riots started last night. We didn't expect it to come to our house. 'We tried to get out of the house and go to a safe place. 'I have lived here 15 years. Everything else has been nice, everything has been OK. 'I have so many friends in Ballymena, I have got so much support. 'Everyone was texting and asking us if we are OK, if we are safe, if they can do anything for us.' He added: 'I am lucky because the damage here is not too bad, but my sister has three kids, I have a little girl. 'We are going to live in a friend's house for a while and then try to move out of here.' He said: 'I like to believe I am a Ballymena man now, I have been living here half of my life. 'I understand if people want to protest but it did not have to be like this. 'We should not have to pay the price.'
