PSNI condemns ‘shocking scenes of disorder’ that saw 15 officers injured

Bricks, fireworks and petrol bombs were all thrown at officers with some requiring required hospital treatment. Two police vehicles were also damaged during the disorder.

The Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) says the vicious attacks on officers was “totally mindless, unacceptable and feral”.

A number of homes and businesses were also damaged, which the PSNI said were being investigated as “racially-motivated hate attacks”.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the “shocking scenes of disorder on the streets of Ballymena have to be condemned in the strongest terms”.

“This is not the way,” he said. “People have been injured and public property damaged. We are engaging with groups that have been affected by this disorder and we are gathering evidence, CCTV and other footage to progress criminal investigations.

“I want to put on record my appreciation and gratitude to our officers who were determined to restore order to the town in the most challenging of circumstances with bricks, furniture and petrol bombs all thrown in their direction. They worked fearlessly to try to bring calm to the most volatile of situations.

“I’m also grateful to our partners in the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and Northern Ireland Ambulance Service for their support through-out.”

At around 7.30pm, a planned vigil gathered in the Galgorm Road area before making its way towards Larne Street, onto Wakehurt Road and then down Queen Street. The vigil was initially peaceful as it made its way towards the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena.

Officers were present at the vigil to ensure an appropriate and proportionate policing response, due to the large number of people who had gathered in the area.

The PSNI said a number of masked individuals then broke away from the vigil and began to build barricades, stockpiling missiles and attacking properties in the Clonavon Terrace area.

It added: “Elements of the crowd then turned onto police and attacked officers with petrol and masonry. This disorder was sustained and continued in the vicinity of Galgorm Street, Linenhall Street and Larne Road Link in the vicinity of the Braid.

“Police officers came under sustained attack over a number of hours with multiple petrol bombs, fireworks, heavy masonry and bricks thrown in their direction by masked rioters. Fifteen officers were injured with some requiring required hospital treatment. Two police vehicles were also damaged during the disorder.”

A number of homes and businesses were damaged with windows and doors smashed. Four houses were damaged by fire with three people evacuated from .

The PSNI said the attacks on these properties are being investigated as racially-motivated hate attacks. Windows were also smashed of several business units in Galgorm Parks in the early hours. In total, six properties in Clonavon Terrace have sustained damage to windows and doors during the disorder.

During the course of the serious disorder, police officers discharged one Attenuating Energy Projectile (AEP) with one rioter struck.

The PSNI said a 29-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of riotous and disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police. He remains in police custody at this time.

As part of ongoing inquiries, the PSNI is also investigating a report of arson at the Tobar Park area of Cullybackey in the early hours of Tuesday (June 10). Shortly after 12.20am, it was reported that a petrol bomb had been thrown at a vehicle in the area which caused it to set alight. Damage was caused to a nearby property, with a woman and two children inside the property. There were no reports of any injuries the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service dealt with the fire.

This is also being dealt with as a racially motivated hate crime, said the PSNI.

Mr Henderson said: “I would strongly urge anyone who was involved in yesterday’s rioting and disorder to think long and hard about their actions. Violence and disorder will only place people at greater risk.

“Our priority is to keep the community safe and we need everyone to work with us, we want better for Ballymena and Northern Ireland.”

He is urging anyone who has information or who can help identify those responsible to get in contact.

PFNI chair Liam Kelly said: “Once again, our colleagues were caught up trying to quell hate-filled violence on our streets. Officers who were trying to protect life and property came under unjustified sustained attack.

“All right-minded people should utterly condemn these actions and provide information and assistance to the PSNI so they can identify those who engaged in the various lawless acts of thuggery.

“Officers’ injuries tell a frightening story of a mob fully intent on inflicting great harm on people. Police officers worked tirelessly to defuse a potentially explosive situation and uphold the law.

“They have again suffered for their courageous and professional interventions. This was mindless violence and thuggery. Officers were under great pressure but to their credit, they restored order over a prolonged period of unrest.

“I have no doubt whatsoever that police officers – far too few because the Service is starved of resources and officer numbers – prevented a pogrom with consequences too painful to contemplate. What we saw was totally mindless, unacceptable, and feral.

“I wish to commend the men and women of the PSNI who undoubtedly saved lives last night. I would appeal for calm, and request that there is no repeat of these shocking images in the town or the lawless acts of intimidation of anyone in our community.”

Justice Minister Naomi Long said: “I am absolutely appalled by the disturbing scenes in Ballymena yesterday evening during which PSNI officers were injured, residents terrorised, and properties damaged.

“There is absolutely no place in our society for such disorder and there can be no justification for it. I would appeal to those involved to seriously consider their actions and step back from this behaviour before someone is seriously injured or worse.

“Attacking homes and police officers serves no purpose other than to damage communities and raise tensions. Those involved will be pursued and held accountable for their actions.

“I have conveyed to the PSNI my best wishes to the injured officers for a speedy recovery.  I am also calling on community and political leaders and all those with influence to condemn this violence and work with the police and community to quell any further disorder or violence.”

Condemning the Ballymena disorder, Northern Ireland Policing Board chair Mukesh Sharma said: “Last night’s violence in Ballymena, attacks on property and attacks on the police is condemned.

“It is disgraceful that 15 officers were injured during the course of this disorder.

“As a Board we support the police in their call for calm within the community and for those with influence to work with the police on that.”