Northern Ireland has been rocked by a third night of violent unrest, as riots that began in Ballymena have now flared across other towns, leaving dozens of police officers injured and multiple buildings in flames.
Masked youths armed with petrol bombs, fireworks and bricks clashed with riot police on Wednesday night, as tensions spilled over from Ballymena into Coleraine and Larne. The violence has now spread across County Antrim, marking some of the worst street disorder the region has seen in years.
The trigger? An alleged sexual assault on a young girl in Ballymena over the weekend, a serious incident now at risk of being overshadowed by what senior police are calling “racist thuggery”.
“This disorder risks undermining the criminal justice process,” warned PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, who confirmed a major policing operation would continue in the coming days.
Flames, Fury and Flying Missiles
In Larne, masked vandals stormed the local leisure centre, setting it ablaze and smashing windows. Police believe the centre had recently been used to house families displaced by the violence in Ballymena.
That detail became political when Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, a local DUP MLA, came under fire for a social media post made just hours before the attack. In it, he criticised a lack of consultation over the centre’s temporary use, prompting accusations that he may have inadvertently stirred tensions.
Lyons has rejected those claims and insisted he would not step down, saying:
“Protesting is a legitimate right, but violence is not.”
A Town on Edge
Back in Ballymena, police in full riot gear clashed with demonstrators for a third night near Clonavon Terrace. Officers used plastic baton rounds and water cannon to try and disperse the crowd after fireworks and masonry were hurled at them. At least one protester was reportedly struck by a baton round.
The PSNI has now confirmed that over 30 officers have been injured since the unrest began. Six individuals have been arrested for public order offences, and one has been formally charged.
The scale of violence prompted the Police Service of Northern Ireland to seek additional support from forces in the rest of the UK.
Communities Divided and Families Displaced
Beyond the smoke and sirens, the human toll is mounting. Homes and vehicles have been set alight, residents are reporting sleepless nights, and families who fled Ballymena now face uncertainty elsewhere.
Locals in some areas have even begun posting signs in their windows identifying their nationality, an unsettling echo of more divided times.
As the unrest continues, there’s growing fear that the actions of a few may drag entire communities back into dangerous territory.
