{"id":30824,"date":"2025-06-11T23:05:29","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T23:05:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.godj.com\/news\/leisure-centre-attacked-in-third-night-of-violence-in-northern-ireland\/"},"modified":"2025-06-11T23:05:29","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T23:05:29","slug":"leisure-centre-attacked-in-third-night-of-violence-in-northern-ireland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.godj.com\/news\/leisure-centre-attacked-in-third-night-of-violence-in-northern-ireland\/","title":{"rendered":"Leisure centre attacked in third night of violence in Northern Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Catherine Doyle & Richard Morgan<\/span><\/p>\n

BBC News NI<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Lyndsey Telford<\/span><\/p>\n

BBC News NI<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"BBCBBC<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Masked young people attack Larne Leisure Centre on Wednesday evening<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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A leisure centre in Larne was attacked as a third night of violence broke out in Northern Ireland on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

During the violence on Monday and Tuesday, the worst of which took place in Ballymena, 32 officers were injured and six people arrested.<\/a><\/p>\n

Earlier this afternoon, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council confirmed the leisure centre had provided emergency shelter for families in urgent need following disturbances in Ballymena.<\/p>\n

The disorder first began on Monday after a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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At the leisure centre, police left the area after masked young people threw objects at vehicles, but later officers in riot gear returned to the scene.<\/p>\n

A crowd of about 50 people were watching the dozen or so individuals target the centre.<\/p>\n

The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) said that they attended the scene at 20:54 BST. <\/p>\n

Two pumping appliances and a flexi officer attended, with 16 personnel in total.<\/p>\n

NIRFS said all their resources have now left. Earlier they said there was mainly damage to the front reception of the leisure centre but extensive smoke damage.<\/p>\n

In a statement, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said: “The families have all been safely relocated and are no longer availing of the facility.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Emergency services attended the scene <\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Local Alliance Party MLA Danny Donnelly, who was at the leisure centre on Wednesday evening, told BBC News NI that there was “absolute disorder”.<\/p>\n

He called the group carrying out the attack “thugs” and that he was “absolutely disgusted”.<\/p>\n

Donnelly said that “a brick went through a window when a yoga class was on” and “staff had to barricade themselves and run out the back door”.<\/p>\n

In a social media on Wednesday, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said he had been made aware of individuals being temporarily moved to the centre. <\/p>\n

He commented that “neither I nor my DUP Council colleagues were made aware or consulted on this decision until late this afternoon”.<\/p>\n

In a statement following violence, Lyons condemned the damage inflicted.<\/p>\n

He said: “The violence and disorder witnessed on our streets over recent nights serves no purpose. <\/p>\n

“Wanton destruction such as the attack on Larne Leisure Centre is an attack on all residents who use the facility.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

What is happening in Ballymena?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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\"PacemakerPacemaker Press<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

There was a large police presence in Ballymena on Wednesday evening<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Meanwhile in Ballymena, smoke bombs, fireworks, bottles and bricks have been thrown at police at a stand-off with a gathered crowd.<\/p>\n

A row of six police land rovers advanced on the crowd, with officers in full riot gear pushing a number of individuals back.<\/p>\n

Police have also deployed dogs and water cannons have arrived at the scene.<\/p>\n

Closer to Clonavon Terrace, the scene of most of the trouble during the first and second night of disorder, the windows of a residential property were smashed.<\/p>\n

The crashing of glass prompted a man in the crowd to shout: “Them’s not foreigners.”<\/p>\n

This marks the third night of disorder in the town.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Watch: Leisure centre set on fire in third night of violence in Northern Ireland<\/figcaption><\/p>\n
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Earlier on Wednesday it was confirmed that a significant number of extra police officers were being deployed into areas of affected.<\/p>\n

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the violence was “racist thuggery targeted at ethnic minorities and police officers”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Doagh Road in Newtownabbey on Wednesday night<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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The PSNI said fires are currently being set within Cloughfern Roundabout in Newtownabbey.<\/p>\n

“We are appealing to parents and guardians to check in on your young folk and see where they are. Youths are actively engaged in this criminal behaviour,” they said.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Translink said there will be “severe delays and disruption” to trains on the Londonderry line because of “civil unrest” in Coleraine and “possible damage to rail tracks”.<\/p>\n

Some buses have also been suspended in Coleraine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"PacemakerPacemaker Press<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

ACC Henderson says “It’s hugely important that people realise there are consequences for this”<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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ACC Henderson said all footage of incidents was being reviewed and prosecutions would come.<\/p>\n

Police Scotland has agreed to a request to send officers, after police in Northern Ireland requested extra support under mutual aid arrangements.<\/p>\n

The deployment will involve an undisclosed number of public order officers trained to police civil unrest. The PSNI said they have requested 80 officers in Great Britain.<\/p>\n

“We’re taking steps to increase available resources and are surging a significant number of extra officers, vehicles and equipment to those areas where the rioting is taking place,” he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He said this would impact communities as “vital resources” are being taken away from other areas. <\/p>\n

“It’s hugely important that people realise there are consequences for this.”<\/p>\n

The first protest was organised hours after two teenage boys appeared before Coleraine Magistrates’ Court.<\/p>\n

They spoke through an interpreter in Romanian to confirm their names and ages. Their solicitor said they would be denying the charges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

BBC correspondent shows aftermath of Ballymena violent protests<\/figcaption><\/p>\n
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ACC Henderson said many people woke up on Wednesday “feeling genuine fear for their lives and their livelihoods”.<\/p>\n

“This violence only serves to undermine the criminal investigation and cause further distress and turmoil to a young victim and her family,” he said.<\/p>\n

“This violence threatens to derail the very pursuit of justice it claims to challenge.”<\/p>\n

Police said there have also been sporadic incidents of disorder in Carrickfergus, north Belfast and Newtownabbey, where one man was arrested. <\/p>\n

One man, 29, has been charged with riotous behaviour, disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police after Monday’s violence.<\/p>\n

ACC Henderson said “the power of social media” is “galvanising” some of the violent behaviour.<\/p>\n

“We have seen a number of calls over social media for protest activity this evening at various places within Northern Ireland,” he said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Protesters throwing projectiles during the unrest in Ballymena on Tuesday<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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ACC Henderson also said that it is “absolutely of note” that petrol bombs and masonry were thrown at police during Monday and Tuesday night. <\/p>\n

“There were people who were intent on violence right from the off, so that says to me that there was pre-planning involved from those who wanted to attack us.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Signs have appeared outside some homes in Ballymena to indicate the nationality of residents <\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Some homes have begun displaying stickers<\/a> outlining the residents’ nationalities. Signs which read “British household” and “Filipino lives here” could be seen on some doors.<\/p>\n

Businesses and homes were attacked and damaged and a number of vehicles were also set on fire in the area.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Mila<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Mika Kolev and her family have been living and working in Ballymena for about 10 years<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Mother-of-two Mika Kolev, who lives and works in Ballymena, said she was now fleeing her home<\/a> with her family and is considering moving back to Bulgaria after her house was damaged in Tuesday’s disorder.<\/p>\n

“We know what’s going to happen so it’s not possible to wait and see what’s going to happen,” she said.<\/p>\n

“I have to save my children, I have to save them.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he “utterly condemns” the violence.<\/p>\n

First Minister Michelle O’Neill said what was happening in Ballymena was “pure racism, there’s no other way to dress it up”.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the violence was “serving no purpose whatsoever” and was only damaging communities.<\/p>\n

The PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher described the disorder as “mindless violence”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n


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