LAST UPDATE | 11 Jun

THE POLICE SERVICE of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has requested assistance from police forces in Great Britain following violence in Ballymena, Co Antrim that targeted immigrants’ homes last night.

The PSNI said 17 officers were injured and six people were arrested after violent disorder erupted for a second night in a row. 

Multiple cars and properties were set on fire while rioters hurled petrol bombs, fireworks and masonry at police officers.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said that the PSNI “are taking steps to increase available resources” adding that they are surging a “significant number” of extra officers, vehicles and equipment to those areas where the rioting is taking place.

“This will have an impact on our community. This will take away vital resources needed to police other areas,” Henderson told reporters this afternoon.

“As part of my forward planning, 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 and bring offenders to justice in the days to come.”

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the “mindless attacks” during the outbreak of violence in Ballymena. Seven people have been arrested, and 33 PSNI officers were injured over two nights of what the PSNI has described as “mindless violence”.

“We strongly condemn the racially motivated violence witnessed in recent days and make an urgent appeal for calm across society,” said ministers from every party in Northern Ireland’s power-sharing executive in a joint statement.

Residents had been “terrorised” and police injured, they added, urging people to reject the “divisive agenda” being pushed by a “destructive” minority.

The PSNI deployed riot police, fired plastic baton rounds, and used water cannons as well as dog units as part of its response to the disorder.

Calm was restored in the Clonavon Terrace, North Road and Bridge Street areas by around 1am this morning.

A burnt out house on Queen Street Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

In a statement this morning, police said some of the officers injured required hospital treatment.

Five people were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and remain in police custody this morning, while a male was also arrested on suspicion of disorderly behaviour on the O’Neill Road in Newtownabbey.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: “The mindless violence witnessed over the past two nights in Ballymena is deeply concerning and utterly unacceptable.

Police respond to a second night of violence in Ballymena. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

“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,” he said. 

“Ironically, and frustratingly, this violence threatens to derail the very pursuit of justice it claims to challenge. Let me be clear: this behaviour must stop. I appeal to everyone involved to cease all further acts of criminality and disorder immediately.”

Starmer echoed those comments during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons this afternoon.

Boucher said the police will now begin an investigation of reviewing all evidence gathered, including video footage. He said images of the individuals involved will be released to identify offenders. 

Do not throw away your future and do not continue to endanger or intimidate the lives of others.

Addressing those who have been threatened or affected by the violence, Boucher said they will find and prosecute those responsible. 

“Hate-fuelled acts and mob rule do nothing but tear at the fabric of our society—they resolve nothing and serve no one.”

A firefighter exits a house set alight during a second night of violence in Ballymena. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Last night’s disorder came after similar violent unrest around Clonavon Terrace in the town on Monday night, following an earlier peaceful protest in the day which was organised in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the area.

On Sunday, two teenage boys were arrested in connection with the incident and later charged. They appeared before court on Monday and spoke through an interpreter in Romanian to confirm their names and ages.

The family of the victim had put a call out for a peaceful protest and vigil to take place “to show our anger at what cannot and will not be tolerated in this town.”

A house in Ballymena with signs saying Filipino lives here Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The victim’s father further said that “not all people with different ethnicities” commit crimes, and invited people from other communities in Ballymena to attend the protest too.

A senior police officer condemned Monday’s disorder as “racist thuggery”. 

Riot police were deployed to residential streets around Clonavon Terrace last night as hundreds of people gathered in the area from approximately 7pm.

The PSNI formed barricades while officers wearing armour and shields also responded to the disorder.

Some masked protesters shouted abuse and threw objects at the police, including fireworks, glass bottles and pieces of metal.

Police used water cannon to disperse people engaged in serious disorder. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The PSNI advised those present to disperse and warned that water cannon would be deployed against those participating in violent activity.

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Police fired plastic baton rounds at some of those gathered and also used water cannons to disperse the crowd.

Many young children were present among those gathered near police lines.

As rioters were dispersed into other parts of the town as the evening progressed into night, a property on Bridge Street and a home on Queen Street were set on fire.

Other properties had windows smashed as some residents chose to display signs about the nationalities of those normally resident, including one saying “British household” and another with “Filipino lives here”.

Multiple cars were also set on fire as part of blazes set by rioters, including near a car wash and tyre centre off Bridge Street and on Larne Street.

The clothing of at least one participant caught fire during the disorder.

The PSNI cleared streets and allowed gaps in its barricades for firefighters to tackle fires in the town as chaotic scenes continued past midnight.

Officers also used a drone as part of the response to illegal activity, which saw some rioters kick in doors and ransack homes.

Riot police wearing armour and carrying shields in Ballymena. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

A 29-year-old man was charged with riotous behaviour after being arrested on Monday night. Henderson said other arrests are expected following the examination of video footage.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has condemned the scenes last night and said that there is “absolutely no justification for attacks on PSNI officers or for vandalism directed at people’s homes or property”. 

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland this morning, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said the scenes were “really unnerving” and “depressing”. 

“For me, it was reminiscent of times a long, long time ago when violent loyalism burnt out Catholics from their homes,” she said. “We’re not going back to those times.”

McDonald said that everybody needs to be safe in their community and in their homes, and she called for order to be restored. “This behaviour needs to stop. It needs to end.”

She also said that she believes Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill will visit Ballymena in the wake of the violence. 

With reporting from Press Association