17 police officers injured during second night of violence in Ballymena

Seventeen police officers have been injured following a second night of sustained violence in Ballymena, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.

PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has warned that the rioting “risks undermining” the criminal justice process into an allegation of a sex attack on a teenage girl in the Co Antrim town at the weekend.

Stormont ministers have also made an urgent appeal for calm and said the justice process had to be allowed to take its course.

In a joint statement, ministers from across the powersharing Executive, which includes Sinn Féin, DUP, Alliance Party and UUP, said those involved in disorder have nothing to offer society but “division and disorder”.

Police have come under attack for a second night in Ballymena, County Antrim as racially motivated rioters set fire to property and launched fireworks and missiles at police lines. 

Police said their officers came under sustained attack over a number of hours with multiple petrol bombs, heavy masonry, bricks and fireworks in their direction in the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena on Tuesday night.

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

Police also reported that “sporadic disorder” had also occurred in Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus, as well as incidents in north Belfast.

It came after similar violent disorder around Clonavon Terrace in the town on Monday night, following an earlier peaceful protest which was organised in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the area. Two teenage boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, have been charged.

A burnt-out and boarded up property that was damaged on Monday evening in violence in Ballymena, during a protest over an alleged sexual assault in the Co Antrim town. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

A PSNI spokesperson said earlier on Tuesday evening that a number of protests took place in areas of Belfast, Lisburn, Coleraine and Newtownabbey.

In Carrickfergus, two bins were set alight and bottles and masonry were thrown at police in the Sunnylands area by a group of 20 to 30 young people at around 8.30pm.

In Newtownabbey, bins were set alight at the roundabout on O’Neill Road.

During the course of the disorder in Ballymena, officers discharged several plastic baton rounds and the water cannon was also deployed in an attempt to disperse the crowds.

A police car drives past a burnt-out overturned car on the street following a second night of violence in Ballymena, during a protest over an alleged sexual assault in the Co Antrim town. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

The spokesperson said: “Businesses and homes were attacked and damaged and a number of vehicles were also set on fire in the area.

“Seventeen officers were injured with some requiring required hospital treatment.

“Five people were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and remain in police custody this morning.

“A male was also arrested on suspicion of disorderly behaviour on the O’Neill Road in Newtownabbey.

“A number of nearby roads were closed by police to ensure the safety of the public and local residents, and to enable officers to deal with the situation and disorder safely. All roads were subsequently reopened.”

PSNI vehicles forming a barricade at Clonavon Terrace, Ballymena, as people take part in a protest over an alleged sexual assault in the Co Antrim town. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Fifteen officers had been injured during similar scenes in Ballymena on Monday.

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

“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.

“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.”

Police vans at Clonavon Terrace, Ballymena, as people take part in a protest over an alleged sexual assault in the Co Antrim town. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

The Chief Constable said the investigation into the violence would include reviewing video footage and images of individuals would be released to identify offenders.

He added: “Since 2010, the PSNI has been critically underfunded. This neglect takes no account of the enormous demands placed on us by legacy issues or the unique challenges of policing in a post-conflict society.

“Our resourcing levels are not just inadequate — they are dangerous.

“I will be making arrangements to activate mutual aid resources to ensure we have the necessary support to maintain public order and bring offenders to justice.”

A view of a damaged police car outside Ballymena Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) station, following a protest over an alleged sexual assault in the Co Antrim town. Picture: Tuesday June 10, 2025.