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RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Police appeal for calm following disorder in Ballymena
Police in Northern Ireland have appealed for calm this evening following disorder in Co Antrim. Missiles were thrown towards officers and a number of properties were damaged during disturbances in Ballymena. The trouble followed a protest in the town where a large crowd had gathered. It followed an alleged sexual assault at the weekend. The PSNI has advised the public and motorists to avoid the Clonavon Road area close to the town centre. It said it had sent officers to the area to ensure people's safety and would remain in the area tonight to monitor the situation. Chief Superintendent Sue Steen said; "We are urging everyone to remain calm and to act responsibly. "Violence and disorder will only place people at greater risk. Our priority is to keep the community safe, and I would appeal to everyone to work with us to bring calm to the area as quickly as possible," she added. Earlier today, two 14-year-old boys appeared in court charged with attempted rape following an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena at the weekend. The teenagers, who are Romanian and spoke through an interpreter, cannot be identified because of their ages.
India Today
4 hours ago
- India Today
Watch: Riots erupt in Ireland after alleged sexual assault of girl
Riots erupted in the town of Ballymena in Northern Ireland on Monday night after two 14-year-old boys appeared in court over an alleged attempted rape -- a case that has inflamed local tensions, particularly after it was revealed the teens required a Romanian estimated 2,500 people gathered for a protest march in the Harryville area in response to the alleged sexual assault, which took place Saturday evening in the Clonavon Terrace area. The peaceful protest quickly spiralled into unrest, with crowds clashing with police in scenes of public disorder that continued late into the stand and watch as locals in Ballymena smash the windows of the house belonging to the family of the foreigners who have arrested for raping young girl in the area. Real News ire (@real_eire) June 9, 2025advertisementThe unrest follows a protest in the area, about 45 km (30 miles) from the capital city of Belfast, earlier on Monday evening, the police statement said, adding damage was reported to a number of properties. "We are urging everyone to remain calm and to act responsibly," said Chief Superintendent Sue Steen in a statement, as authorities confirmed missiles had been thrown at police and property damage was reported throughout the town centre. Footage circulating on social media appeared to show flames rising near residential buildings, masked individuals confronting police, and objects being hurled at PSNI vehicles. While Reuters noted it could not independently verify the clips, local residents confirmed the scenes reflected the growing tension in the face off with PSNI in Ballymena as people hit the streets following 2 rapes by migrants in a Tommy Robinson (@TRobinsonNewEra) June 9, 2025advertisementUNREST AFTER COURT HEARINGThe violence occured after the court appearance of the two teenage boys, who were charged with attempted rape and cannot be named due to their age. The case, heard at Coleraine Magistrates' Court, has drawn significant media and public attention -- not only due to the nature of the alleged assault but also due to the nationality of the broadcaster RTE confirmed that both teenagers are Romanian nationals and required an interpreter for the court proceedings. The detail, though procedural, appeared to stoke outrage amongst some in the protest crowd.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Public disorder breaks out in Northern Irish town, with missiles thrown at police
LONDON (Reuters) -Public disorder broke out in Ballymena town centre in Northern Ireland following a protest reportedly over an alleged sexual assault case on Monday, with police saying a number of missiles had been thrown towards officers. The unrest follows a protest in the area, about 45 km (30 miles) from the capital city of Belfast, earlier on Monday evening, the police statement said, adding damage was reported to a number of properties. Social media footage, purportedly showing the disorder, captured plumes of fire near what appeared to be residential buildings, with police present at the scene. Another clip appeared to show a masked man throwing an object at police vans as a crowd looked on. Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of these clips. "We are urging everyone to remain calm and to act responsibly," Chief Superintendent Sue Steen said in the police statement. BBC News reported that hundreds of protesters had gathered in Ballymena in response to a case involving two teenage boys who appeared before Coleraine Magistrates' Court earlier in the day, accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in the County Antrim town. Irish media outlet RTE News reported that the teenagers, who it said are Romanian and spoke through an interpreter, cannot be identified because of their ages. A separate police statement from Sunday said two teenage boys had been charged with attempted rape in connection with a serious sexual assault on a teenage girl in Ballymena on Saturday evening.
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Daily Record
Riot police sent into Belfast: Petrol bombs thrown after sex crime vigil turned violent
Chaos unfolded in Ballymena, Co Antrim, in Northern Ireland, as 2,500 people gathered to show support for a female who was sexually assaulted. Two teenage boys, both 14, have been arrested and charged with attempted rape Last night, pandemonium broke out in a quiet UK town as what began as a protest against a recent sexual assault spiralled into riots, with irate protestors lobbing petrol bombs at law enforcement. The turmoil took root in Ballymena, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, where an estimated 2,500 people gathered to express their support for the young woman who was assaulted. Two youths aged 14 were apprehended on suspicion of being implicated in the event and have been indicted for attempted rape. Pleading not guilty to the charge of attempted oral rape at Coleraine Magistrates' Court on Monday morning, they relied on a Romanian interpreter for communication. By Monday evening, the situation had escalated dramatically with throngs converging around the Ballymena police station and Clonavon Terrace, in close proximity to where the alleged assault happened on Saturday, June 7. In a statement, a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) representative said: "A number of missiles have been thrown towards police with damage reported to a number of properties. Officers are advising motorists and pedestrians to avoid the Clonavon Road area until further notice.", reports the Mirror. They further stated: "It follows a protest in the area earlier this evening. Officers are in attendance to ensure the safety of everyone involved. They will remain in the area tonight to continue to monitor the situation." Chief Superintendent Sue Steen has called for peace in the midst of turmoil, saying: "We are urging everyone to remain calm and to act responsibly. Violence and disorder will only place people at greater risk. Our priority is to keep the community safe, and I would appeal to everyone to work with us to bring calm to the area as quickly as possible." Riot police were seen arriving in the town centre after 10.30pm, more than an hour after protests turned violent, while firefighters tackled blazes in wheelie bins and worked to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. Social media footage shows large groups wearing masks in front of charred buildings, some with shattered windows. The Northern Ireland Fire Service was dealing with two fires on Clonavon Terrace, where earlier crowds had assembled, around 11.15pm on June 9. Fire service teams are actively extinguishing the fires, and police have been reported to use less-than-lethal baton rounds to manage the crowd hurling projectiles. Alliance councillor Lauren Gray has made a heartfelt request for rioters to cease their actions. On social media, Cllr Gray implored: "Appealing for calm in Ballymena right now. I know through my Council colleagues that the vast majority of people there don't support these actions in their community. "There is no place for violence. Please stop." BelfastLive has reported that "sporadic" rioting went on through the night, with the situation described as "tense". Past midnight, officers succeeded in pushing protestors away from Clonavon Terrace, yet disturbances persisted. By approximately 12:30 am, another house on Larne Street was torched after vandals broke the windows and set fire to the terraced dwelling. Not long after, at around 12:50 am, PSNI riot vans rushed to the area, with officers forcibly entering properties to evacuate residents amidst the chaos as masked onlookers filmed and uploaded footage onto TikTok. A substantial police force is anticipated to stay in Ballymena until Tuesday morning.
Irish Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Petrol bombs thrown and riot police storm Belfast streets after sexual assault
Tonight, a peaceful protest in a small UK town spiralled into violence as it transformed into a riot, with police officers coming under fire from petrol bombs. The turmoil swept through the streets of Ballymena, Co Antrim, in Northern Ireland, after a crowd of about 2,500 people took to the streets to voice their support for a woman who was recently sexually assaulted. Authorities detained two boys, both aged 14, in connection with the incident, charging them with attempted rape. The teens, denying the accusation of attempted oral rape, were brought before Coleraine Magistrates' Court on Monday morning, utilising a Romanian interpreter. By the evening, large groups had gathered outside the Ballymena police station and Clonavon Terrace, which is in close vicinity to where the alleged assault took place on Saturday, June 7. In response to the unrest, a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokesperson released a comment: "A number of missiles have been thrown towards police with damage reported to a number of properties. Officers are advising motorists and pedestrians to avoid the Clonavon Road area until further notice.", reports the Mirror. Further elaborating they stated: "It follows a protest in the area earlier this evening. Officers are in attendance to ensure the safety of everyone involved. They will remain in the area tonight to continue to monitor the situation." Chief Superintendent Sue Steen has called for level heads during the disorder, urgently requesting: "We are urging everyone to remain calm and to act responsibly. Violence and disorder will only place people at greater risk. Our priority is to keep the community safe, and I would appeal to everyone to work with us to bring calm to the area as quickly as possible." Riot police were witnessed descending on the town centre after 10.30pm, more than sixty minutes after the protests took a violent turn. Concurrently, firefighters were contending with the task of dousing wheelie bin blazes and preventing them from spreading to nearby structures. Footage shared across social media platforms depicts large swathes of individuals donning masks — standing before charred edifices and some featuring windows that have been shattered. Northern Ireland's Fire Service was reported to be dealing with blazes in two buildings on Clonavon Terrace, tracked down to a location where earlier groups had assembled, at approximately 11.15pm on June 9. NIFRS units are actively engaged in firefighting efforts, whilst the police have supposedly resorted to utilising non-lethal baton round launchers to rein in the crowds hurling missiles. Amidst the turmoil, an Alliance councillor has made an impassioned call to the rioters to desist. Cllr Lauren Gray appealed on her social media channel, emphasising: "Appealing for calm in Ballymena right now. I know through my Council colleagues that the vast majority of people there don't support these actions in their community. "There is no place for violence. Please stop." BelfastLive has described the situation as "sporadic" rioting occurring through the night, with a "tense" atmosphere prevailing. A considerable police presence is set to be maintained in Ballymena until Tuesday morning.
