Fifteen police officers sustained injuries during violent disturbances in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, on Monday night. The incidents occurred following a vigil for a teenage girl who had reportedly been sexually assaulted.
The violence began after a vigil held for a teenage victim of alleged sexual assault. Earlier that day, two 14-year-old boys had appeared in court facing attempted rape charges, with a Romanian interpreter present to read the charges.
According to police statements, masked individuals separated from the vigil and began constructing barricades while gathering projectiles. The crowd targeted properties in the Clonavon Terrace area before turning their attention to law enforcement officers.
Police faced attacks involving petrol bombs, fireworks, heavy masonry, and bricks. The assailants also attempted to set fire to homes belonging to several foreign families in the County Antrim town.
The confrontation resulted in damage to two police vehicles and injuries to 15 officers, with some requiring hospital treatment. Four residential properties sustained fire damage, leading to the evacuation of three individuals from their homes. Authorities are investigating these incidents as racially motivated hate crimes.
Liam Kelly, chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, described the officers’ injuries as telling a “frightening story of a mob fully intent on inflicting great harm.” Kelly praised officers for their efforts to manage what he characterized as a potentially explosive situation, stating they “prevented a pogrom with consequences too painful to contemplate.”
Kelly criticized the violence as “totally mindless, unacceptable, and feral,” while noting that police resources and officer numbers remain insufficient.
Video footage shared online captured a woman observing the attacks on homes, expressing concern about debris potentially hitting participants or observers. When informed that people were inside one of the targeted houses, she responded by questioning whether the occupants were local residents.
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson confirmed one arrest had been made and stated that police would work to identify and prosecute those responsible for the attacks. Henderson announced plans for increased police presence in Ballymena to protect communities and prevent future disorder, with potential reinforcements from Wales and England if needed.
Jim Allister, Traditional Unionist Voice leader and MP for North Antrim, condemned the violence while acknowledging rising tensions in the town located 25 miles north of Belfast. Allister noted that concerns about migration levels in Ballymena had been a factor in what he described as an initially peaceful protest.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the disorder “very concerning,” stating that while reports of sexual assault were “extremely distressing,” there was “no justification for attacks on police officers while they continue to protect local communities.”
Political leaders across Northern Ireland’s spectrum condemned the violence. Justice Minister Naomi Long declared there was “absolutely no place in our society for such disorder.”
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt visited damaged homes on Tuesday, acknowledging public concerns about immigration while emphasizing that legitimate channels exist for expressing such concerns. “Last night was not one of them,” Nesbitt stated.
The incidents represent part of a broader pattern of intimidation and attacks against foreign residents in County Antrim in recent years, with some individuals forced to relocate due to harassment.
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