This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0k3le25r8ro
The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 22 | Version 23 |
|---|---|
| Ballymena: Seventeen police officers injured during second night of violence | Ballymena: Seventeen police officers injured during second night of violence |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| BBC correspondent shows aftermath of Ballymena violent protests | BBC correspondent shows aftermath of Ballymena violent protests |
| Protesters threw petrol bombs, bricks and fireworks at police during another night of disorder in Ballymena on Tuesday. | 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. | 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. | 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 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 . | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. | One man, 29, has been charged with riotous behaviour, disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police after Monday's violence. |
| 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. | 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. | "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." | "I have to save my children, I have to save them." |
| The family was in the process of moving following Monday night's violence. | 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". | 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." | "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. | 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. | "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". | 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. | "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. | Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the violence was "serving no purpose whatsoever" and was only damaging communities. |
| Debris was strewn across the streets on Wednesday morning | Debris was strewn across the streets on Wednesday morning |
| PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said the violence endangered lives and risked the ongoing criminal justice process. | 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. | 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. | "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". | 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. | "Our resourcing levels are not just inadequate - they are dangerous," he said. |
| The police have also said there was no evidence of paramilitary involvement. | The police have also said there was no evidence of paramilitary involvement. |
| Watch: Police attacked on second night of disorder in Ballymena | Watch: Police attacked on second night of disorder in Ballymena |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | "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". | Mulholland said there was "widespread livestreaming on social media of the violence – directing people where to go, how to get around the police barricades". |
| Signs have appeared outside some homes in Ballymena to indicate the nationality of residents | Signs have appeared outside some homes in Ballymena to indicate the nationality of residents |
| 'Tensions rising' in Ballymena | 'Tensions rising' in Ballymena |
| 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. | 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. | 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". | 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". | 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". | 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. | 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." | 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." |
| Get our flagship newsletter with all the headlines you need to start the day. Sign up here. | Get our flagship newsletter with all the headlines you need to start the day. Sign up here. |