Ballymena: 15 PSNI officers injured and homes destroyed after night of "sustained" disorder
Police say the attacks on properties are being investigated as racially-motivated hate crime
Last updated 10th Jun 2025
As a clean-up operation got under way today (Tuesday) in Ballymena after a night of disorder, it has emerged that 15 PSNI officers were injured with a number of homes and businesses petrol-bombed.
Police said they came under "sustained attack" by a masked gang over a number of hours during which "multiple" petrol bombs and chunks of masonry were thrown at them.
They said windows were smashed at six houses in Clonavon Terrace and at four houses were damaged by fire with three residents evacuated.
Windows were also smashed of several business units in Galgorm Parks in the early hours.
A spokesperson said: "The attacks on these properties are being investigated as racially-motivated hate attacks,":
Police said they fire a baton round (Attenuating Energy Projectile) which struck a "rioter".
A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of riotous and disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police. He remains in police custody at this time.
In a statement, the PSNI said: "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.
"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. "Elements of the crowd then turned onto police and attacked officers with petrol bombs 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.
"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.
Justice Minister Naomi Long said there can be "no justification" for such "appalling" scenes and police have appealed for calm following the disruption in the Co Antrim town.
Local MP Jim Allister said tensions had been growing in the town over immigration, adding that the violence followed a peaceful protest in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the town at the weekend.
Two 14-year-old boys appeared in court on Monday charged with attempted rape. The charges were read to the teenagers by a Romanian interpreter.
Monday's violence occurred in the Clonavon Terrace area with social media footage showing protesters burning plastic road barriers and bins as part of a barricade on the street.
Some masked individuals also threw missiles including cans of paint and glass bottles at PSNI vehicles.
A line of police vehicles advanced towards the protesters followed by officers on foot.
Firefighters later responded to the burning debris on the road and inspected a nearby house which had filled with smoke.
Other footage appeared to show some protesters targeting houses by smashing windows.
Tensions which erupted into violence on the streets of Ballymena have been building for some time, North Antrim MP Jim Allister has said.
TUV leader Mr Allister said: "Within Ballymena there has been rising concerns about the sheer scale of migration into the town and that would have been a factor in the wholly peaceful protest.
"All that to be distinguished from the wanton violence which then followed, with obviously a minority of that peaceful crowd wanting to take advantage of that to visit violence which wasn't wanted or warranted, hence the scenes that we saw.
"It is very distressing to see scenes of violence on the streets of Ballymena."
Mr Allister said tensions have been building in the town "for a considerable period of time".
He added: "It is easier to start than to stop these things. There has been a bit of authorities not wanting to face up to the racial background of some of this over the years.
"That unchecked migration which is beyond what the town can cope with, is a source of past and future tensions; that is the reality of it."
"Those who came onto the street last night in the main had a perfectly legitimate purpose and cause of being there."
Mr Allister said he had spoken to the family of the girl who was the victim of the alleged sexual assault and they did not want to see violent scenes.
He said: "Sadly the narrative has been diverted, and it has been diverted by those who wrongly and foolishly involved in violence and made the story something that what it otherwise should be.
"My message is the violence should stop. The concerns are there, I am certainly aware of them, I hear them and there needs now to be a period of calm and justice needs to take its course."
Ms 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."
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said: “Last night saw significant sustained disorder in Ballymena. This violence was clearly racially motivated and targeted at our minority ethnic community and police.
“I want to condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms. It has no place in our society and should be loudly condemned by all right-thinking people.
"Last night, we made one arrest. Today, we are actively working to identify those responsible and bring them to justice. Over the coming days, we will have in place a significant policing presence to help protect these communities in Ballymena and prevent any future disorder.
"During the course of the night, 15 officers were injured. I am hugely grateful to them for their bravery in facing this challenge. I also want to put on record my gratitude for colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, who were responding to help keep people safe.
“We are engaging with groups effected by the disorder to support and reassure them. I would strongly urge anyone who was involved in yesterday’s violent disorder to reflect long and hard about their actions, they will have consequences. I also appeal for calm over the coming days.
“Anyone who has information or who can help identify those responsible is asked to contact police on 101.”
A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/
Meanwhile, as part of ongoing enquiries, police are also investigating a report of arson at the Tobar Park area of Cullybackey in the early hours of this morning (Tuesday),
"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, the PSNI said.
"Damage was caused to a nearby property, with a woman and two children inside the property. There were no reports of any injuries as colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service dealt with the fire. This is being dealt with as a racially motivated hate crime."