Rising Tensions and Arrests: Latest on Ballymena Riots

Disorder broke out in parts of Northern Ireland as police dealt with rising tensions for a third night running. PSNI officers returned to the streets of Ballymena last night as a number of protests took place across the country.

Images circulating online also showed bins set alight in front of Larne Leisure Centre and a number of windows smashed and vandalised, after it emerged the facility was being used as an emergency shelter for families.

Violent Disorder in Ballymena:

Violent disorder had already taken place in Ballymena for two nights following a protest march held in the arrests over an alleged sexual assault on a teenager at the weekend. Two 14-year-old boys have been charged with attempted rape and a PSNI spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday a third person, aged 28, has been arrested in connection to the investigation. On Thursday, police said three people have been charged following disorder in Ballymena on June 10 and are due in court today.

Minister's Response:

Stormont Justice Minister Naomi Long said it has been a “three-day festival of hate and destruction” which needs to stop before someone loses their life. She said she will be seeking additional funding for the PSNI in the June Monitoring Round. She also commended the PSNI for seeking support through a mutual aid request for additional officers from Great Britain.

Secretary of State's Statement:

Three nights of disorder and destruction on the streets of Northern Ireland is not what the region is about, the Secretary of State has said. Hilary Benn described scenes as “shocking” after Wednesday saw a third consecutive night of disorder in Ballymena, with petrol bombs, a hatchet, and masonry among items thrown at police.

Community Minister's Response:

The Communities Minister has responded after coming under fire for a social media post about Larne Leisure Centre. Gordon Lyons posted on social media that the leisure centre had been used to accommodate several people following riotous behaviour in the town of Ballymena. He said he would “strongly hit back at any notion” that he had publicly revealed the facility was being used to house immigrant families who had been affected by violence in Ballymena.