Fireworks and bottles thrown at police as Ballymena violence flares for second night

Protesters threw petrol bombs, bricks and fireworks at police during another night of disorder in Ballymena on Tuesday.

Five people were arrested and a further 17 officers were injured overnight, bringing the total to 32.

Officers fired baton rounds and used a water cannon to disperse protesters as cars were set on fire and the windows of several houses were smashed.

The disorder began on Monday after a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in the County Antrim town.

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.

Crowds gathered in the Clonavon Terrace area for a second night of violent disorder, which has been described by police as “racist thuggery”.

Riot officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had been deployed to Ballymena.

Police said they also dealt with sporadic incidents of disorder in Newtownabbey, where a man was arrested, and Carrickfergus in County Antrim and north Belfast.

One man, 29, has been charged with riotous behaviour, disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police after Monday’s violence.

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.

“It’s absolutely vital that the PSNI are given the time they need to investigate the incidents concerned rather than face mindless attacks as they seek to bring peace and order to keep people safe,” he told the House of Commons.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill said what was happening in Ballymena was “pure racism, there’s no other way to dress it up”.

“Those responsible for this violence bring nothing to our communities but hatred, fear and division,” she said.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the violence was “serving no purpose whatsoever” and was only damaging communities.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said the violence endangered lives and risked the ongoing criminal justice process.

He said the PSNI would pursue those responsible and images would be released to identify offenders.

“To those who have been threatened or affected by this violence: we are with you,” he added.

He said the PSNI was “critically underfunded” and would be “making arrangements to activate mutual aid resources”.

“Our resourcing levels are not just inadequate – they are dangerous,” he said.

The police have also said there was no evidence of paramilitary involvement.

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.

Alliance Party assembly member Sian Mulholland told the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme that there was a heavily pregnant woman in one of the houses set on fire.

“We were able to direct the police to remove that family and get them out of the area to safety, to the police station,” she said.

Mulholland said there was “widespread livestreaming on social media of the violence – directing people where to go, how to get around the police barricades”.

A clean-up operation is under way, with debris and burning items being cleared from the roads. Scorch marks and melted bins can be seen on the streets.

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) assembly member Paul Frew told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he feared someone would be killed in the disorder.

Frew said it was “drowning out the strong and sincere sympathies for victims of sexual violence”.

He said tensions had been rising for some time in Ballymena and and people were “frightened about illegal immigration”.

Police have urged anyone involved in the unrest “to reflect long and hard about their actions”.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said there was “no justification” for the rioting.

The MP for North Antrim, Jim Allister, posted on social media: “Tonight’s further senseless violence in Ballymena is helping no cause, just destroying our own town and getting young men criminal records. Stop it.”