3 days ago
‘They threatened to kill us' – victims of Ballymena racist riots tell of terror
Raymond Labaniego said he hid inside after the thugs appeared at his front door, screaming at those inside to come out.
It came during a night of violence on Monday that saw properties damaged and 15 PSNI officers injured in what a police chief branded 'racist thuggery'.
One arrest was made as several homes were targeted in Clonavon Terrace.
The riots followed an attempted sexual assault that was reported in the same area where the homes were targeted.
Two 14-year-olds, who spoke through a Romanian interpreter, appeared in court this week charged in connection with the incident.
Monday night's protest initially started as a 'peaceful demonstration' in Harryville.
However, tensions rose when masked males created makeshift barricades and targeted police.
Missiles, including fireworks and glass bottles, were thrown at police. Masked men and youths took to the streets, with some lighting a large fire in the middle of the road.
Six homes were attacked, with four of them being damaged by fire.
Some businesses were targeted and had their windows smashed.
We locked the door and then they were screaming outside. They told us to come out. They threatened to kill us. We hid inside the house
Mr Labaniego, who works for Wrightbus, lives with his colleagues in the area that was targeted.
Speaking outside his home, which had its windows smashed, he described his shock after rioters threatened to kill him.
'On Monday night, we were all asleep at 7pm, and then we heard a sound around 9pm,' he said.
'They were screaming outside and there were many people outside here.
'After a minute, they trashed our door and stole our bikes. Then many people tried to come into our house at the side.
'They already had broken our door to get inside. They got something from our garage and maybe, with something like heavy metal, came and smashed our windows, trying to get in.
'But we locked the door and then they were screaming outside. They told us to come out. They threatened to kill us. We hid inside the house. It was terrifying. I live with four other people, all my colleagues.
'We have been here for almost two years now, this is the first time this has happened. We don't fear people here. People here are friendly.
'It is good to be in Northern Ireland, we want to be here.'
In Cullybackey, the home of a family originally from the Philippines was targeted in an arson attack.
Kevin Rous, who also works for Wrightbus, lives with his wife and young children. The exterior of the property was left burnt and a car was destroyed.
'I was on night shift last night, and I got a call from my wife. I went home because she said there was a fire,' he said.
'My two kids at that time were asleep and they all rushed outside. Someone had thrown a bottle of kerosene.
'My wife has been traumatised. Last night, she told me she had heard an explosion outside. The fire alarm went off and she said there was smoke.
'We went outside to a neighbour's house because we didn't know the emergency line here. There was damage mainly to the outside of the house, there is no damage to the inside.
'I don't feel safe here. It is nice living in Northern Ireland, neighbours are friendly.'
I'm desperately saddened for the residents in the affected area. It has been an incredibly traumatic and destabilising night for them
Meanwhile, a Romanian mother who lives in one of the houses that were attacked 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.
The woman, who said she was too afraid to give her name, told of how she had tried to flee her house after the front window was broken.
Alliance councillor Jack Gibson added: 'What we saw in Ballymena on Monday night was appalling and must not happen again.
'I'm desperately saddened for the residents in the affected area. It has been an incredibly traumatic and destabilising night for them.
'The family and the victim of the alleged sexual assault this weekend have had their call for a peaceful demonstration hijacked as a result of inflammatory language and prejudice.
'I was pleased to see that the protest march they called for in Harryville was so dignified and focused on the real and pressing need to end violence against women and girls.'
