Northern Ireland riots latest: Petrol bombs and fireworks hurled at police as Ballymena violence spreads

The Communities Minister is to be referred to the standards commissioner following vandalism and a fire at Larne Leisure Centre.

Prior to the fire, Gordon Lyons posted on social media that the leisure centre had been used to accommodate several people following riotous behaviour in the town of Ballymena, which is 30 minutes away.

Matthew O’Toole, the leader of the opposition in the Northern Ireland Assembly, said he would refer the minister to the commissioner.

Mr Lyons said on Wednesday: “As a local MLA for the area, neither I nor my DUP Council colleagues were made aware or consulted on this decision until late this afternoon.”

He added: “It has now been confirmed to us by the PSNI and Council that all these individuals are in the care of the Housing Executive and have been moved out of Larne.

“Protesting is of course a legitimate right but violence is not and I would encourage everyone to remain peaceful.”

Six individuals have been arrested for public order offences relating to the riots, with one person charged so far

A “significant policing operation” is to be in place in Ballymena and beyond on Wednesday night and in the coming days.

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 Ballymena at the weekend.

Police in Northern Ireland have requested support from colleagues in the rest of the UK following further violence in Ballymena, a senior officer has said.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the force would be bringing extra officers, vehicles and equipment to areas where unrest has flared.

He said there were disgraceful scenes in Belfast, Lisburn, Coleraine, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey on Tuesday, as businesses, homes and cars were attacked and damaged.

Ethnic minorities and immigrants have been targeted in the ongoing riots in Northern Ireland, seemingly in response to the fact that the two teenage boys charged with the attempted rape of a teenage girl in Ballymena were read their charges by a Romanian interpreter.

Here is what politicians and local authorities have said:

First minister Michelle O’Neill said she believes it is important for political leaders to join together and call for calm in Ballymena.

“Whether that be Catholic families driven out of their homes in north Belfast, whether that be the racism that we see being carried out over the last two nights in Ballymena, is wrong. We have to say that its wrong, and all political leaders need to join together in calling for calm,” the First minister said.

“All Executive parties have come together to say what is happening needs to stop.

“We cannot dress this up: this is racism in Ballymena. We need to say this is not something we will tolerate in our society.”

A local police officer has also called it “racist thuggery”.

The violence originally flared after a vigil in support of the family of a teenage girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the town over 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.

PSNI said it had made a third arrest in connection with their investigation into the serious sexual assault on Monday evening. The 28-year-old man was unconditionally released from police custody following questioning.

A peaceful vigil began on Monday around 7.30pm heading towards the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena. Police were present due to the large number of people who had gathered when a number of masked individuals broke away from the gathering and began to build barricades, stockpiling missiles and attacking properties nearby.

Members of the crowd turned on police and attacked officers with petrol bombs and masonry as the disorder continued in the nearby vicinity of Galgorm Street, Linenhall Street, as well as Larne Road Link near the Braid.

Unrest has spread from Ballymena to other towns, including Coleraine and Larne – where the leisure centre was set on fire by masked vandals who also smashed windows on Wednesday.

The facility had temporarily been used as emergency shelter for those in urgent need following disturbances in Ballymena earlier in the week.

As unrest continues for a third night in Ballymena, we’re here to keep you updated with everything that’s going on.

Stay tuned for regular updates about the riots across Northern Ireland.