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LAST UPDATE | 10 Jun
RIOT POLICE HAVE been sent to Ballymena, Co Antrim this evening as unrest continues in the area for a second night.
Journalists have observed police use a water cannon on a protest in the area this evening. Violence occurred in the Clonavon Road area of the town centre yesterday, following an alleged sexual assault in the town on Saturday.
Four houses were damaged by fire during the previous disorder yesterday, with police saying that the fires are being treated as racially motivated hate attacks.
Police in Northern Ireland said that 15 officers were injured after violence erupted on the streets of Ballymena, Co Antrim last night. This evening, police have urged the public to stay away from Clonavon Terrance in Ballymena
A spokesperson said police are currently dealing with “serious disorder” in the area. Images from the scene show that incendiary devices have been thrown in the direction of police this evening.
Police have managed to move a large group of people away from the Clonavon Terrace area. Its advice to the public continues to be to remain indoors and away from the area.
Personal property has also been set alight, according to footage from social media and images from journalists at the scene.
A 29-year-old man was charged with riotous behaviour this evening after being arrested during disorder in Ballymena last night.
The man, who is due to appear before Ballymena Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 3 July, has also been charged with disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police.
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said today the force would have a significant operation in place over the coming days. Work is ongoing to identify those responsible for last night’s events, he added.
Liam Kelly of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland said “vicious” attacks on officers were “totally mindless, unacceptable, and feral”.
In a statement this morning, the PSNI said that a planned vigil took place in the Galgorm Road area at around 7.30pm before making its way towards Larne Street, onto Wakehurt Road and then down Queen Street.
Police said they were attending the vigil to ensure “an appropriate and proportionate policing response” due to the large number of people who were in attendance.
They said the vigil was initially peaceful as it made its way towards the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena.
A number of masked individuals then broke away from the vigil and began to build barricades, stockpiling missiles and attacking properties in the Clonavon Terrace, they said.
Footage circulating shows houses being entered and set alight from the inside. A Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) Spokesperson said that firefighters evacuated seven people from a house fire in Clonavon Terrace.
A second house fire, also in Clonavon Terrace, was extinguished, but firefighters had to return this morning due to a suspected gas leak.
“Another house fire in Larne Street was extinguished. This was later reignited and Firefighters responded. Firefighters also attended a car fire in Tober Park where 3 casualties were transferred to the care of Northern Ireland Ambulance Service” the spokesperson said.
“Elements of the crowd then turned onto police and attacked officers with petrol bombs and masonry,” police said, adding that this disorder continued in the vicinity of Galgorm Street, Linenhall Street and Larne Road Link.
They said police officers came under “sustained attack” over a number of hours with multiple petrol bombs, fireworks, heavy masonry and bricks thrown in their direction by masked rioters.
PFNI Chair Liam Kelly said: “Once again, our colleagues were caught up trying to quell hate-filled violence on our streets. Officers who were trying to protect life and property came under unjustified sustained attack.
“All right-minded people should utterly condemn these actions and provide information and assistance to the PSNI so they can identify those who engaged in the various lawless acts of thuggery.”
He added: “Officers’ injuries tell a frightening story of a mob fully intent on inflicting great harm on people. Police officers worked tirelessly to defuse a potentially explosive situation and uphold the law.”
Kelly said that officers “restored order” over a prolonged period of unrest and appealed for calm to prevail in the aftermath of these attacks.
Videos shared online showed masked youths individuals throwing missiles, including cans of paint and glass bottles, at PSNI vehicles. A number of homes and businesses were damaged with windows and doors smashed, while four houses were damaged by fire with three people evacuated.
“The attacks on these properties are being investigated as racially-motivated hate attacks,” police said.
They said windows were also smashed of several business units in Galgorm Parks in the early hours. Six properties in Clonavon Terrace sustained damage to windows and doors during the disorder.
Authorised police officers discharged one Attenuating Energy Projectile during the course of the violence, which struck one rioter.
“Last night saw significant sustained disorder in Ballymena. This violence was clearly racially motivated and targeted at our minority ethnic community and police,” Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said.
I want to condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms. It has no place in our society and should be loudly condemned by all right-thinking people.
He said police are actively working to identify those responsible, adding that there will be significant policing presence in place over the coming days “to help protect these communities in Ballymena and prevent any future disorder”.
“We are engaging with groups effected by the disorder to support and reassure them.
“I would strongly urge anyone who was involved in yesterday’s violent disorder to reflect long and hard about their actions, they will have consequences. I also appeal for calm over the coming days,” he added.
He said that anyone who has information or who can help identify those responsible is to contact police on 101. Police are also investigating a report of arson at the Tobar Park area of Cullybackey in the early hours of this morning.
With reporting from Eimer McAuley, Niall O’Connor, Muiris Ó Cearbhaill and Press Association
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