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Sunday World
16 hours ago
- Sunday World
Man arrested under Terrorism Act after viable device thrown inside Belfast Islamic Centre
Police probe potential hate motive as incident is widely condemned Police said a viable device was thrown inside the building. A window was smashed during the incident. One man has been arrested under the Terrorism Act. Kashif Akram said the attack, which happened shortly after 10pm last night, had caused much distress. He told the Belfast Telegraph the centre, on University Road, had to be evacuated, disrupting evening prayers. Political representatives branded it a sinister attack and said it must be strongly condemned. A broken window after an attack at the Belfast Islamic Centre. Photo: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press Police said one man remained in custody this afternoon. Assistant Chief Constable Anthony McNally said: 'Police received a report at approximately 10.10pm on Friday that an object had been thrown through a window at a property in the University Road area of the city. 'Officers attended and carried out a search of the building where a suspicious device was discovered. 'Ammunition Technical Officers attended and examined the object which was determined as viable and has since been removed for forensic examination. 'A 34-year-old man was arrested under the Terrorism Act at the scene and remains in police custody at this time. It is important to stress that, while the suspect has been arrested under the Terrorism Act, the motive for the attack has not yet been established. Police at the scene last night (left) and the Islamic Centre this morning (right) News in 90 Seconds - June 21st 'Detectives from Serious Crime Branch are currently working at pace and are exploring a number of potential motivating factors including the possibility that this is a hate crime. 'At this time, no other persons are being sought in connection with the attack.' A video from the first floor of the centre, seen by this newspaper, shows a man reaching into the building. . "I saw the flames in his hand from above but couldn't capture it in the video," they said. A pedestrian walking by stopped the suspect from doing any damage. A clip of the incident shows the young man grabbing the suspect and pulling him away. The suspect can be heard telling the pedestrian that he was "trying to save the world" as he was being dragged away. "He was the first to stop him," the witness continued. "Only then did we reach there." Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph today, Mr Akram said he strongly condemned the 'vile attack'. 'During evening prayers last night, one of the windows was broken and a device was thrown inside the building,' he said. Police at the scene of the security alert outside Belfast Islamic Centre (Photo by Kevin Scott) 'Everyone was evacuated from the building and the police were quick to respond. 'We were unable to continue night prayers as the whole area was cordoned off and nobody was allowed near the building. 'A bomb squad eventually removed the device in the early hours of this morning. 'We have had incidents in the past but nothing of this kind.' He said that while members were very angry and upset, the centre has been able to reopen today. South Belfast MP Claire Hanna said she was 'appalled' at the attack. 'I am hugely relieved that no one was seriously injured, but this was a frightening and disturbing experience for the centre's users and for all of us who value a peaceful and shared society,' she said. Read more Hanna added: 'Belfast is an open and welcoming city. No one should ever feel unsafe in their place of worship.' SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole said it was a 'cowardly attack' and 'yet another stark reminder of the very real and growing threat of race hate in our society'. Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw said: 'This attack was again designed to cause fear among people inside the centre, who were at prayer at the time. 'Nevertheless, I am thankful for the intervention of a nearby passer-by and for the work of the police. Those were much more reflective of the true spirit of Belfast, where most people rejoice in diversity.' The Belfast Islamic Centre in the south of the city. Photo: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press Sinn Féin MLA Deirdre Hargey said the 'sinister' incident must be strongly condemned. She added: 'No one should ever feel unsafe in their place of worship, and my thoughts are with everyone affected. 'Acts like these, fuelled by hate, spread fear and division, and target people who have come to our communities to build a life and call this place home. 'It's vital that all political leaders speak out and stand united against this disgusting behaviour.' Green Party councillor Áine Groogan said she was 'horrified', describing it as a "cowardly and vicious act'.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
My sister died holding hands with best pal in Debs crash – no jail for man driving 150kph before horror adds to our pain
DEBS crash victim Dlava Mohamed's sister has blasted the suspended sentence handed down to a reckless Romanian driver who hit speeds of more than 150kph in the lead-up to the fatal smash. Best pals Dlava, 16, and Kiea McCann, 17, Advertisement 5 Dlava Mohamed's sister has blasted a suspended sentence for another horror driver Credit: Pacemaker Press 5 Dlava and her best pal Kiea McCann died in the crash in Monaghan in 2023 Credit: Pacemaker Press 5 Driver Anthony McGinn was recently sentenced to seven years in jail over the crash Credit: Pacemaker Press Killer driver Anthony McGinn, a friend of Kiea's family who had offered to drive the two teenagers to their school party, A Advertisement Debs chauffeur McGinn was jailed at Monaghan Circuit Court last month after Heartbreaking victim impact statements revealed how Kiea and Dlava died 'holding hands' after McGinn ignored pleas to slow down. He also admitted to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm as Dlava's sister Avin, 19, suffered life-altering injuries. The Debs victims' families Now Advertisement Alin Sorin Gatea, 46, appeared at a sitting of Monaghan District Court on Monday on multiple counts of dangerous driving on the day of the Debs crash. Gatea, of Carn Heights, Clones, Co Monaghan, faced five counts of dangerous driving at various locations between Clones and Monaghan on July 31, 2023. One of the counts related to a charge at Legnakelly, just outside Clones, where Dlava and Kiea lost their lives in the crash en route to their Debs ball in the Westenra Arms Hotel in Monaghan town. Schoolgirl best friends died holding hands in horror crash Monaghan District Court heard father-of-four Gatea hit speeds of more than 150kph in his BMW as it followed McGinn's BMW. On Monday, Judge Raymond Finnegan gave Gatea an 18-month suspended prison sentence and disqualified the factory worker from driving for four years. Advertisement Reacting to the sentence, Dlava's sister Lilav tonight called for tougher sentences for speeding drivers in a bid to reduce fatalities on our roads. 'THERE HAS TO BE CONSEQUENCES' Lilav, 23, told the Irish Sun: 'It is only a suspended sentence. There has to be consequences. 'I'm so confused. Where is the punishment? There has to be a deterrent. 'Maybe more people should die for something to happen? 'The sentence should be stronger to send out a strong message. What about the young people, what does it say to them about speeding? Advertisement 'There definitely has to be stronger consequences.' FAMILY DEVASTATED Emotional Lilav told how the Mohamed clan came to Ireland from war-torn Syria to build their dreams. But with their lives shattered by the road traffic tragedy, Dlava's heartbroken family want lessons to be learned from their devastating loss. Opening up on their pain, anguished Lilav told the Irish Sun: 'It's hard to say how we're coping with it. Of course nothing is the same. 'There have been huge changes in our lives, definitely. So there should be huge changes for people speeding so dangerously and recklessly. Advertisement 'THERE IS ANGER' 'That man (Gatea) got a suspended sentence. What does that say to young people? If they see this kind of news, they're going to be like we're going to be fine if we cross the speed or anything. 'He (Gatea) was speeding like the other man (McGinn). Both of them are adults. 'There is anger, definitely. I want my message to be heard. There should be strong sentences, it could act as a deterrent, it could help save lives.' Monaghan District Court heard Gatea drove at speeds of more than 150kph in his BMW as it followed McGinn's BMW on a wet road. HIGH SPEEDS Dad Gatea had two passengers in his vehicle, his son, who was 19 at the time, and another teenager, who was 18 at the time. Advertisement He was driving both of them to the Debs ball at the Westenra Arms Hotel in Monaghan on the evening of July 31, 2023. The court heard the Romanian travelled at high speeds behind McGinn's BMW prior to the fatal collision. Inspector Ann-Marie Lardner revealed that following forensics of Gatea's dash cam footage, investigators confirmed the Romanian national was travelling at a minimum speed of 145kph and a maximum speed of 151kph at the time. 'I'm so confused. Where is the punishment? There has to be a deterrent." Lilav Mohamed Insp Lardner told Judge Finnegan that these speeds were almost double the speed limit. Defence solicitor, Catherine Taaffe, insisted that there had been 'no joint enterprise' or suggestion that her client had been acting in concert with the other car. Advertisement Ms Taaffe revealed the dash cam footage shown in court was voluntarily supplied by Gatea after he witnessed a serious event ahead of him. Ms Taaffe pointed out that Gatea's dash cam helped the state in bringing someone to justice for a much more serious crime. ANGRY REACTION And the defence solicitor highlighted how the charges before the court were for speeding, saying they had no bearing on the serious fatal collision that occurred that evening. The court was also told that Gatea had shown good levels of cooperation during the investigation. Members of Kiea's family, who attended the sentencing hearing, reacted angrily when it was put to Judge Finnegan there had been no indication of any racing element being involved. Advertisement 'KARMA WILL COME TO YOU' Asked by the judge if the McCann family believed the drivers were racing, Garda Inspector Lardner told the court 'yes they do'. The McCann family tonight joined the Mohamed clan in blasting the sentence given to Gatea. Kiea's dad Frankie stormed: 'Karma will come to you and Anthony.' Kiea's mum Teresa branded both Gatea and McGinn a total disgrace. Teresa rapped: 'Terrible the way the country is run. Advertisement 'TWO GIRLS' LIVES GONE' 'My child Kiea's life and friend Dlava's life taken. . . and this is the outcome of it. Two girls' lives gone. Handing down sentence, Judge Finnegan slammed the way Gatea drove, insisting he clearly put But the judge explained the DPP had directed him over the dangerous driving charges and that he can only act on the counts before him. Judge Finnegan issued three six month suspended sentences and disqualified Gatea from driving for four years. 5 Grieving relatives say they have suffered fresh trauma over the recent sentence Credit: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Advertisement 5 The McCann family tonight joined the Mohamed clan in blasting the sentence Credit: Pacemaker Press
Sunday World
5 days ago
- Sunday World
Teen riot accused's mother says son is ‘not racist' and protests ‘are not racist either'
Mum-of-four accuses political leaders of abandoning Ballymena as she predicts rallies will continue Families after returning to their homes in Ballymena (Photo by Alan Lewis) The mother of a teenager accused of rioting in Ballymena has defended her son and insisted the riots are not racist. Michael Elliott (18) was the first alleged rioter to be pictured in the press after being charged with riotous assembly following days of violent disorder. One of three teenagers to appear at Ballymena Magistrates Court on rioting offences on Thursday, he was remanded in custody. Michael Elliott Ballymena Courthouse (Photo by Liam McBurney/PA) The town has seen a week of sustained violence and attacks on police in disturbances which followed an alleged attempted sex attack on a teenage girl last weekend. 'Scapegoat' Elliott's mum Carla (36), who has appealed for people to protest peacefully, told Sunday Life she stood by her son and believed he had been made a scapegoat. She said: 'He's only 18 a couple of months. He's only just over the threshold to be charged as an adult. 'I was a bit cross at the courts because that's my son's face now plastered all over international news. 'I burst into tears when I left the court. I was in shock that he was remanded when there's been people bailed for worse. 'I am angry at the justice system for going after children to make an example. 'If you're going to do that, do it to them all, especially when the police came with the force they did.' Families after returning to their homes in Ballymena (Photo by Alan Lewis) The minimum age of criminal responsibility in Northern Ireland is currently 10 years old. Local youth courts deal with all criminal cases involving young people under the age of 18. When Michael Elliott appeared in court, a police officer said he was arrested on Tuesday night following an incident where a house on Bridge Street had been set on fire. The officer said police believed it was important that courts send out a 'strong message.' He said if the court did not, there was a risk of further disorder that could lead to 'death or serious injury' for foreign nationals living in Ballymena. A defence solicitor said his client's involvement was limited to 'throwing stones'. A rioter throwing a petrol bomb at police (Photo by Stephen Davison/Pacemaker Press) The district judge told Elliott he was a young man who now found himself in the dock in court. Refusing bail he said the court would deal 'robustly' with those where there was evidence they were involved in the disorder. Speaking about the outbreak of violence in Ballymena, Carla Elliott recalled: 'I was shocked when it turned into a riot, but I wasn't surprised because nobody is listening to people. Nobody cares about Ballymena. 'Michelle O'Neill said she wouldn't even come here, which is a kick in the teeth. She is no first minister for all, and I'm saying that as a Catholic. 'Politicians have a lot to answer for. They are the reason our country is the way it is.' Michelle O'Neill decided against visiting the Co Antrim town after taking advice from police, saying she did not wish to 'cause even more kind of kickback'. Firefighters battle a house ablaze in Ballymena (Photo by Kevin Scott) The disorder, which started in Ballymena last Monday and spread to Larne, Portadown and Coleraine, has drawn widespread condemnation. Videos of houses being burned and windows being smashed as people chanted 'f*** the foreigners' and 'get them out' caused shock and outrage. PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher labelled rioters 'racists and bigots'. First Minister Ms O'Neill described the incident as 'naked racism'. Prime Minister Keir Starmer also expressed concern. However, mother-of-three Ms Elliott, who lives with her family on the Lanntara housing estate in Ballee, just outside Ballymena, insisted that the riots were not racist. She said: 'I didn't agree with local people's houses being damaged, but the ones inciting the trouble weren't even from here. They were from Belfast. 'You can hear the different accents in the videos. It wasn't Ballymena people, but it's made us look racist. 'Ballymena has been unfairly portrayed. Our country was already on its knees. We already have enough bad people of our own. 'I would like the government to listen to their own people. A water cannon vehicle in Portadown (Photo by PA) 'We fought for this country during the Troubles, and our grandparents would be ashamed of what's happening to our country. 'They need to look after our own people and deal with the crimes our own people are committing. We don't need the extra stress. 'If we didn't have them (migrants) coming, we wouldn't have all the stresses we do and the NHS crisis and so on. 'My son is not racist and I don't think the riots are racist. 'There's a difference between the ones that have paperwork to be here and the ones that are here illegally. 'It's the illegal ones who need to be shipped back to their country where they come from. 'They're up and down across the border, using different passports and IDs. 'We're not racist. I have cousins who are a different colour. I have worked with Poles and Romanians with no problem. 'It's the illegals that are the problem. They don't respect our laws and traditions, and we've had enough.' Boarded-up windows in Ballymena (Photo by Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press) Although the violence of recent nights was not at the same scale as it was at the start of the week, Ms Elliott believes the protests will continue. She said: 'It's a two-tier system. Foreigners are treated differently by the police. 'Ballymena has done silent protests for years, and nothing has been done, so I don't know what they expected. 'I wouldn't discourage people from protesting because our country is on its knees, but they need to protest peacefully and not do riots.' Carla Elliot and Michael Elliot (inset) News in 90 Seconds - June 17th
Sunday World
7 days ago
- Politics
- Sunday World
Anti-immigration group says the North will burn until politicians solve crisis
A group calling themselves the Ballymena Action Group they insist their actions are not racist Police Officers in Portadown were targeted with petrol bombs, fireworks, masonry, bricks and bottles. Police Officers in Portadown were targeted with petrol bombs, fireworks, masonry, bricks and bottles. The disturbance in the West Street area marked the County Armagh town's second night of unrest, but was at a lower level than seen earlier in the week. DUP politicians Jonathan Buckley and Carla Lockhart on the ground in Portadown. Pacemaker Press 13/06/2025 Police presence outside the Marine Court Hotel in Bangor as protest held. Photo by Sarah Harkness/Pacemaker Press Northern Ireland will continue to burn until politicians solve the immigration crisis. That's the grim warning from a group claiming to represent disaffected residents in Ballymena which has been the seat of widespread racially targeted violence across the Province. Calling themselves the Ballymena Action Group they insist their actions are not racist and lay the blame for foreign nationals being burned out of their homes at the feet of politicians and police. In a statement seen by the Sunday World they seek to assure what they call 'hard working honest families'' that they have nothing to fear insisting their targets are eastern European organized crime gangs. They also claim to have compiled a 40-page dossier on Romanian and Bulgarian crime figures operating in Ballymena as far back as five years ago. People trafficking, prostitution and drug dealing have been allowed to spread unchecked, they claim. Pacemaker Press 13/06/2025 Police presence outside the Marine Court Hotel in Bangor as protest held. Photo by Sarah Harkness/Pacemaker Press News in 90 Seconds - 15th June 2025 Chillingly they say the time for dialogue is over and have vowed to take the law into their hands as they intend to reclaim the streets of Ballymena. The statement comes in the wake of a week of the worst street violence seen here since last year's race riots in Belfast. This time the violence has spread to Larne where the local leisure centre was torched as it provided sheltered for families forced from their homes in Ballymena. Portadown has seen some of the worst violence, more than 20 police officers were injured during rioting on Friday evening and in Coleraine a family was burned out of their homes. In Bangor a protest outside a seafront hotel which has been used to accommodate asylum seekers passed off peacefully amid a heavy police presence. There had been fears of violence in the seaside city after graffiti appeared on walls in some areas warning foreign nationals they had 24 hours to get out. In one instance a warning slogan was daubed on the front door of a house. There is no indication the troubled is being orchestrated by paramilitary groups although police said individual paramilitary members are undoubtedly involved and there has been a level of orchestration, particularly in Portadown. DUP politicians Jonathan Buckley and Carla Lockhart on the ground in Portadown. In their statement the Ballymena Action Group said the violence was an expression of frustration. 'Levelling names such as racist and thugs does not help,' they said, 'it is due to years of being ignored by politicians, the great and the good, understanding the issues and working to resolving them is better than calling names. 'We do not support violence of any description but fully understand the frustration felt .' Tensions remained high across the Province over the weekend, police leave has been cancelled and the overstretched PSNI has been bolstered with the arrival of 80 officers from the Scottish police after a plea for help. Certain politicians have come under fire for what has been viewed as inflammatory language. TUV leader Jim Allister was criticized for referring to 'unfettered immigration' and claiming that 'busloads' of eastern Europeans are entering Northern Ireland from the South. Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is facing calls for his resignation after the DUP referenced that Larne Leisure Centre was housing displaced foreign nationals. Within hours the building was set alight forcing a children's swimming class and a yoga class to flee through the back door. Ballymena Action Group say they will not be deterred and are set on their course of action until the immigration is resolved. 'To all politicians and representatives it is time to work to resolve problems and not pay lip service to them. 'It is time we are back on the streets only this time its different. Call us racist if you want but it won't deter us. We're not interested in dialogue with authorities or councillors so don't even try to contact us, been there, done that, nothing changed.' Police Officers in Portadown were targeted with petrol bombs, fireworks, masonry, bricks and bottles. The disturbance in the West Street area marked the County Armagh town's second night of unrest, but was at a lower level than seen earlier in the week. The statement sent to the Sunday World claims the PSNI has been handed a file of evidence against named east European individuals. 'We handed a 40 page dossier to police five years ago, pictures, names and addresses and much more on the Romanian and Bulgarian mafia gangs in Ballymena and look where we are today. 'We're going after the rapists the drug dealers and traffickers in these communities coz no one else is.' It was the only reference, albeit oblique, in their statement to the incident which sparked the violence. The alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl in the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena was the subject of peaceful protests in the town last Sunday and Monday nights. Two Romanian teenagers have appeared in court on charges of attempted oral rape, which they deny. The young girl's family has called for an end to the violence stating that the disruption is retraumatizing her. Videos circulating on social media claim to show a man arrested in connection with the alleged assault showing off a bundle of cash. He was named in the video and the Sunday World understands he has left the area. The Ballymena group insist they have no interest in law abiding families despite a number being forced from their homes, some of them having lived her for more than 10 years. Police Officers in Portadown were targeted with petrol bombs, fireworks, masonry, bricks and bottles. Ukrainian nationals fleeing the war in their homeland are among those affected. 'Hard working honest families do not need to fear us, we are here for you as well 'Any information given to us on these scumbags will be treated with the utmost confidence and will be thoroughly investigated and acted upon. ' Security chiefs are braced for another week of street violence. Scenes of burning homes and attacks on police have gone viral across the world. Videos on TikTok are attracting huge numbers. One live feed of violence in Ballymena was viewed more than two million times. The racial violence is at odds with Northern Ireland's status as the least culturally diverse region of the UK. Foreign nationals represent only three per cent of the population, according to official government figures there are only 1,500 eastern European nationals living in the North. On Friday evening police in Portadown deployed water cannon to tackle rioters who were attacking them. Officers were targeted with petrol bombs, fireworks, masonry, bricks and bottles. Earlier on Friday, police released photos of four suspects they wanted the public to help identify in connection with the disorder. Police have made 17 arrests following disorder in various parts of Northern Ireland, with 13 charged. Four have appeared in court and been remanded in custody. In a statement the PSNI told the Sunday World: 'As a Police Service we value community intelligence to support the delivery of effective policing and we take all submissions seriously. Any reports of criminal behaviour and potential activities is robustly assessed and investigated.'
Sunday World
12-06-2025
- Sunday World
Judge warns those involved in Ballymena disorder will be dealt with ‘robustly'
The Co Antrim town has witnessed three nights of sustained violence and attacks on police Heavy police presence in Ballymena this evening on the third night of disorder. Photo: Stephen Davison/Pacemaker Press Police in Ballymena during a third consecutive night of unrest. Photo by Press Eye Three teenagers have appeared in court charged with rioting offences following recent violence in Ballymena. A district judge in the town's magistrates' court said a strong message had to be sent out that those involved in the disorder would be dealt with 'robustly' by the court. The Co Antrim town has witnessed three nights of sustained violence and attacks on police in disturbances which followed an alleged sex attack on a teenage girl at the weekend. Heavy police presence in Ballymena this evening on the third night of disorder. Photo: Stephen Davison/Pacemaker Press The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has branded the violence 'racist thuggery' and said officers and ethnic minorities have been targeted for attack. Michael Elliott, 18, of Lanntara, Ballymena, appeared in the dock in handcuffs and wearing a grey tracksuit on Thursday. A PSNI detective constable said he could connect him to a charge of riotous assembly. The officer told the court that Elliott was arrested at 11.50pm on Tuesday night following an incident where a house on Bridge Street had been set on fire. The detective constable said it was originally believed the occupants were still inside the property. Elliott was detained after he was seen running from the scene, the court was told. He was wearing gloves and a balaclava, the court heard. During police interview he had made admissions to the offence of riotous assembly, the detective said. He told police during interview he had become involved in the disorder because others were involved and blamed the situation on police. The detective constable said there was 'strong public feeling' currently within Ballymena. Police in Ballymena during a third consecutive night of unrest. Photo by Press Eye Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 12th He said police believed it is important that courts send out a 'strong message'. He said if the court did not, there was a risk of further disorder that could lead to 'death or serious injury' for foreign nationals living in Ballymena. A defence solicitor said his client's involvement was limited to 'throwing stones'. The district judge told Elliott he was a young man who now found himself in the dock in court. He said the court would deal 'robustly' with those where there was evidence they were involved in the disorder. The judge refused an application for bail. He said: 'Your case should be an example to others who are considering getting involved in further public disorder.' The judge said there was a high likelihood that those who were charged over rioting would be refused bail and would face a significant custodial sentence if convicted. Police in Ballymena during a third consecutive night of unrest. Photo by Press Eye PSNI give update on Ballymena unrest He remanded Elliott in custody until July 10. A 15-year-old boy appeared in the dock charged with riotous assembly and criminal damage. The detective constable said he was arrested on the second night of disorder in Ballymena involving hundreds of people. He said police observed footage showing bins set on fire at a retail park. The officer told the court that when the youth was arrested, he had in his possession a bottle, a large rock and a balaclava. The officer said there had been 'serious racially aggravated public disorder' in Ballymena. A defence lawyer said his client accepted possession of the three items and that he should not have been in the area. The lawyer said perhaps the teenager had 'got involved in the excitement'. District Judge Broderick said anyone should be 'disabused of the notion that rioting is any form of excitement'. He said the court needs to take measures to protect the public. The judge added: 'I agree that a strong message needs to be sent out that those, young and old, who get involved will be dealt with robustly by the courts.' He rejected bail and remanded the 15-year-old to appear at a youth court on June 18. A 17-year-old appeared in the dock charged with riotous assembly. The detective constable said he was arrested in a retail park wearing a balaclava and dark clothing, which matched the description of those involved in the rioting. A defence solicitor said there were a vast number of people wearing dark clothing and balaclavas who were not involved in rioting. He said nothing 'beyond mere presence and the clothing he was wearing' tied his client to the offences. The detective said there was an extensive amount of CCTV footage still to be examined. The lawyer said there had been a 'rush to charge' his client. The judge said he was satisfied the 17-year-old could be connected to the charge. There was no application for bail and he was remanded to appear in youth court on June 18.
