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Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
All you need to know as violent clashes erupt in UK city for second night
Three officers were injured after police came under attack during overnight disorder in Derry, Northern Ireland, where a 13-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour Two teenagers have been arrested following disorder in Derry across as many nights. Officers were pelted with debris and fireworks during the violent clashes erupted across the Northern Ireland city on Tuesday night. The gathering was organised over social media after disorder in Derry on Monday evening. A 13-year-old boy was detained on Tuesday on suspicion of riotous behaviour, after an 18-year-old man was arrested on Monday in the Orchard Row area of the city. Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) said in a statement initially shared on social media: "Police are dealing with ongoing disorder in the Nailors Row area of Derry / Londonderry this evening, Tuesday 17th June. A number of missiles, including masonry and petrol bombs, have been thrown towards officers. We would ask the public to avoid the area until further notice." Three officers were injured after missiles were thrown at police between 9.30pm and 11.30pm on Tuesday. They said two officers were struck by masonry, while a third was hit by a firework. "A second arrest has been made today, 17 June, by police in Derry/Londonderry in connection with disorder in the Nailors Row area of the city last night, 16 June. A 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour, and has since been released on bail to allow for further police enquiries to be conducted," the police statement added. It's understood that several attempts were made to attack homes in the Fountain Estate before police intervened on Tuesday. Videos posted to social media show crowds of youths shooting fireworks at officers in riot gear. Derek Moore of the North West Cultural Partnership, which is based in the Fountain Estate, said issues have been ongoing for six to eight weeks. Meetings have been held with the PSNI, he told Belfast Telegraph, with pressure applied on them and individuals with influence in the Bogside to engage with the young people responsible. Two Catholic boys were attacked in the Nelson Drive area of the Waterside in April, and violence has escalated since then across Derry, which as a metropolitan area is home to more than 237,000 people. Last week's riots which saw petrol bombs being thrown at cops in what was dubbed a "week of shame" for the region. After serious public disorder erupted in Ballymena on Monday last week, the focus of the violence and unrest shifted to Portadown. One officer was directly in the impact of a petrol bomb that landed behind a line of police vehicles during a sustained standoff with those participating in the unrest on Friday. Fireworks, masonry, and bottles were among other items thrown at riot police deployed in the town. Police used a water cannon on the crowd in an effort to disperse those gathered on West Street into other areas. First Minister Michelle O'Neill said everyone is condemning the disorder and calling for it to stop.
The Independent
11-06-2025
- The Independent
What is behind the riots in Northern Ireland?
Police were attacked with petrol bombs, bricks and fireworks in a second night of violent disorder in a town in Northern Ireland on Tuesday night. Houses, cars, a car wash and tyre centre were also set alight by the protesters, who were eventually dispersed by officers firing plastic baton rounds and using water cannons. The trouble in Ballymena, in County Antrim, broke out on Monday after an alleged sexual assault on girl in the area. Ethnic minorities appeared to be targeted across the two nights of violence, with some residents resorting to displaying signs in their home windows to show their nationalities. A senior police officer has condemned the disorder as 'racist thuggery'. What is happening in Ballymena? On Monday night, unrest broke out around Clonavon Terrace in Ballymena, where several houses had their windows smashed and two suffered significant smoke damage. A total of 15 police officers were injured and several Police Service Northern Ireland vehicles targeted, as authorities attempted to stop the disorder. Monday night's violence was followed by further trouble on Tuesday night in the Clonavon Terrace, North Road and Bridge Street areas, where police came under attack from masked protesters throwing fireworks, glass bottles and pieces of metal. Hundreds of people had gathered from around 7pm, with officers in amour firing plastic baton rounds at some of those gathered. Water cannons were also used. Many young children were present among those gathered near police lines. As rioters were dispersed into other parts of the town, a property on Bridge Street and a home on Queen Street were set on fire. Multiple cars were also set alight as part of blazes set by rioters, including near a car wash and tyre centre off Bridge Street and on Larne Street. Calm was restored by around 1am on Wednesday. How did the riots start? The unrest started after a peaceful protest on Monday which was organised in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the area. In connection with the incident, two 14-year-old boys have appeared in court charged with attempted rape. The charges were read to the teenagers by a Romanian interpreter. On Monday night, a third arrest was made. Where is Ballymena and what is it like? Ballymena is town which has a 30,000 population and is located a 30-minute drive from Belfast. Described in tourist brochures as a pretty shopping town, its main roads resembled a war zone on Tuesday night as tensions boiled over in the community. With ethnic minorities appearing to be targeted, residents have chosen to display signs about the nationalities of those normally resident, including one saying 'British household' and another with 'Filipino lives here'. Police said there had also been 'sporadic disorder' in Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus, as well incidents in north Belfast. What has the reaction been to the events? The prime minister 's official spokesman described the as 'very concerning'. They added: 'Obviously, the reports of sexual assault in the area are extremely distressing, but there is no justification for attacks on police officers while they continue to protect local communities. 'PSNI and the justice system must be allowed to carry out their jobs and our thoughts are with the victims of the assault as well as the police officers who were injured.' The Northern Ireland Secretary has said there is 'no justification' for attacks on police officers or vandalism. In a social media post, Hilary Benn said: 'The terrible scenes of civil disorder we have witnessed in Ballymena again this evening have no place in Northern Ireland. 'There is absolutely no justification for attacks on PSNI officers or for vandalism directed at people's homes or property.' Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson issued a public appeal for information and said the PSNI was actively working to identify those responsible for the 'racially motivated disorder in Ballymena and bring them to justice'. At a press conference on Tuesday, Mr Henderson said the attacks should be 'loudly condemned by all right-thinking people'. He said: 'Any attempt to justify or explain it as something else is misplaced.' What happens now? A heavy police presence remains in Ballymena following the second night of disorder, while work starts to clear the streets of debris and repair damage to homes and businesses. Police officers from England and Wales will be brought to Northern Ireland if needed to help the PSNI, said Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson. A 29-year-old man was charged with riotous behaviour after being arrested on Monday night. He will now go before the courts as police expect to make others arrests following the examination of video footage.
Agriland
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
NI ag minister receives death threat
Northern Ireland's Minister for Agriculture, Enterprise and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir has received a death threat, that has been reported to the Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI). Minister Muir said that a comment was posted during a Zoom call he was attending, which threatened to 'have (the minister) shot'. The PSNI said it has received reports of threats, and has launched an investigation. Minister Muir said: 'I'm disappointed to see some of the online comments posted in recent times, both in terms of myself and also officials. 'This does not reflect the vast majority of people in farming, I have been welcomed into many farmers' homes and I'm grateful for the warm and respectful welcome since I took up ministerial office.' The minister also believes it is important to 'lower the tone' in wider public discourse on the draft Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) proposals. He said: 'This is a public consultation – there's no need to issue death threats against me, nor make discriminatory comments about anyone. 'We have a critical challenge in terms of improving water quality in Lough Neagh, and also giving financial stability and certainty for farming here. 'That will not change via death threats or anything else. I have a job to do for the people of Northern Ireland and I will continue to do that,' the minister added. Minister Andrew Muir The deputy leader of the Alliance Party, Eóin Tennyson has described the death threat as 'deplorable and unacceptable'. Tennyson said: 'I am proud of the leadership Andrew has offered on Lough Neagh and the protection of our environment. Whilst there must always be space for honest, open and robust political debate; there can be no place for intimidation or threat of violence. 'Threats against any politician are an attack on the democratic process.' The chief superintendent of the PSNI, Stephen Murray said that the PSNI will do all it can to ensure that politicians are supported, and that they can undertake their role 'free from fear and intimidation'. Murray said: 'It is totally unacceptable that anyone should face abuse or threats simply for carrying out the duties of their office. We will thoroughly investigate any such incident. 'We regularly engage with our elected representatives in order to provide information on personal safety, how the police service can support them and, crucially, when to report an incident to police.' 'We regularly engage with assembly and parliamentary officials, and the electoral commission, in regard to elected representative safety,' Murray added.
