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Gun attack may be linked to flags Gun house attack 'third in month'
(about 2 hours later)
A number of shots have been fired at a house in the Rossdale area of Ballymena, County Antrim. A couple who escaped injury in a gun attack on their Ballymena home on Monday night say it is the third time they have been targeted in a month.
It happened at about 0030 BST on Tuesday. A man and woman in the house at the time were not injured. Up to three shots were fired through the living room window of the house in the Rossdale area just after midnight.
The woman said she had previously approached a number of people after they put up flags in the mixed housing development.
She says she asked them if they had permission from residents.
DUP councillor John Carson, who condemned the attack, said there had been tensions in the area over flags.DUP councillor John Carson, who condemned the attack, said there had been tensions in the area over flags.
He said it was the second attack on the property, which belongs to a member of a local community association.
Councillor Carson said there had been a "deal done on flags last year" that they would be put up on 1 July and taken down on 31 August.Councillor Carson said there had been a "deal done on flags last year" that they would be put up on 1 July and taken down on 31 August.
However, he said this year someone had "taken it upon themselves" to put flags on every lamppost in the development. However, this year, he continued, someone had "taken it upon themselves" to put flags on every lamppost in the development.
He added that the woman whose home was attacked approached those putting up the flags.
"We want to live at peace with our neighbours in a democratic society," said Councillor Carson."We want to live at peace with our neighbours in a democratic society," said Councillor Carson.
'Fly a flag''Fly a flag'
"Just because I decide to fly a flag from my property, and that's my that my democratic right - I have no right to cross the street and tell a neighbour to get his out." "Just because I decide to fly a flag from my property, and that's my democratic right - I have no right to cross the street and tell a neighbour to get his out."
SDLP MLA Declan O'Loan condemned the attack as the work of "bully boys."SDLP MLA Declan O'Loan condemned the attack as the work of "bully boys."
"Residents in the Rossdale area are very opposed to this spate of flag waving. There is a flag on virtually every lamppost in the development," he said."Residents in the Rossdale area are very opposed to this spate of flag waving. There is a flag on virtually every lamppost in the development," he said.
"Strenuous efforts have been made by councillors and others to resolve the matter. Now a member of the Residents' Association has been deliberately targeted in a very serious, violent manner.""Strenuous efforts have been made by councillors and others to resolve the matter. Now a member of the Residents' Association has been deliberately targeted in a very serious, violent manner."
Police said that a motive for the attack had not yet been established.Police said that a motive for the attack had not yet been established.
It is understood a male wearing a hooded top and a balaclava was seen in a dark coloured Citroen Saxo car in the area at the time.It is understood a male wearing a hooded top and a balaclava was seen in a dark coloured Citroen Saxo car in the area at the time.