Police deploy more officers after Ballymena 'mob violence'

Getty Images

Police in Northern Ireland have redirected a significant number of extra officers into areas affected by two days of violent disorder, Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson has 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.

ACC Henderson said the violence was "racist thuggery targeted at ethnic minorities and police officers".

Pacemaker Press

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.

"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.

Getty Images

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.

'Pure racism'

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."