Significant police presence to continue after ‘mob violence’

People woke up on Wednesday “feeling genuine fear for their lives and their livelihoods” following mob violence in Ballymena, Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson has said.

This comes after two days of violence in which 32 officers were injured and six people arrested.

A significant police presence will continue in the County Antrim town after disorder began on Monday following a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault.

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

The constable also said all footage of incidents was being reviewed and prosecutions would come.

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: “This violence only serves to undermine the criminal investigation and cause further distress and turmoil to a young victim and her family.

“This violence threatens to derail the very pursuit of justice it claims to challenge.”

ACC Henderson also said communities were impacted as “vital resources” were redirected.

Police said there have also been sporadic incidents of disorder in Carrickfergus, north Belfast and Newtownabbey, where one man was arrested.

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 also said the PSNI has a “significant operation in place” for Wednesday night in case there is more disorder.

He said: “I have now activated the request for mutual aid resources from policing colleagues in Great Britain to ensure we have the necessary support and maintain public order to bring offenders to justice in the days to come.”

He added 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.”

Authorised officers discharged a number of Attenuating Energy Projectiles (AEPs) and a water cannon was also deployed in an attempt to disperse the crowds.

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.

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.”