Police deploy more officers after Ballymena 'mob violence'

Catherine Doyle

BBC News NI

Getty Images Four white, yellow and red police vans face towards a crowd, away from the camera, as smoke as water appear between the vans and the crowd. There are four people wearing black riot gear holding clear round shields. Smashed glass and other bits of rubbish can be seen on the floor behind the police vans. Getty Images

Police engage with rioters during a second night of disorder in Ballymena

A significant number of extra police officers are being deployed into areas of Northern Ireland affected by two days of violent disorder, police have 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.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the violence was "racist thuggery targeted at ethnic minorities and police officers".

A blue wheelie bin being brought into a building, it is on fire.

Disorder at Larne Leisure Centre on Wednesday

On Wednesday evening, a leisure centre in Larne came under attack, with a number of bins set alight outside.

Police left the area after masked young people threw objects at vehicles.

A crowd of about 50 people were watching the dozen or so individuals target the centre.

It is believed that a number of people were temporarily moved to the leisure centre in the early hours of the Thursday morning following the disturbances in Ballymena.

Pacemaker Press A close up of a police constable. He's wearing a white shirt with lapels on the shoulders.  Pacemaker Press

ACC Henderson says "It's hugely important that people realise there are consequences for this"

ACC Henderson 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.

BBC correspondent shows aftermath of Ballymena violent protests

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.

ACC Henderson said "the power of social media" is "galvanising" some of the violent behaviour.

"We have seen a number of calls over social media for protest activity this evening at various places within Northern Ireland," he said.

The constable added that he is "absolutely alert" that "we could see more tonight", but added that "at this stage it's too early to judge".

Getty Images Six men wear black coats and black tracksuit bottoms. They all wear black balaclavas as they throw stones, bricks and other objects. A group of people, out of focus, can be viewed looking on in the background. Two black wheelie bins lie beside the individuals throwing the rocks. Getty Images

Protesters throwing projectiles during the unrest in Ballymena on Tuesday

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.

A sign reading "Filipino lives here" is stuck to a crescent window above a door, surrounded by the red brickwork of the front of a house. The sign also has the red, white and blue flag of the Philippines on it

Signs have appeared outside some homes in Ballymena to indicate the nationality of residents

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.

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.

Mila Kolev wears a grey hooded cardigan and a pink t-shirt as she stands outside her home in Ballymena. Her dark brown wooden front door has a panel missing in it. She is looking at the camera with a neutral expression on her face.

Mika Kolev and her family have been living and working in Ballymena for about 10 years

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."

A map showing an overview of Ballymena, indicating where Clonavon Terrace is in relation to other areas in the town, like the River Braid and the police station.

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."

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