Police’s vow to catch those responsible for ‘racially motivated disorder in Ballymena’
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson issued a public appeal for information and said the PSNI (Police Service Northern Ireland) was actively working to identify those responsible for the “racially motivated disorder in Ballymena and bring them to justice”.
He said the service would deploy significant resources to any further disorder during the week. On Tuesday evening, riot police were deployed to residential streets around Clonavon Terrace on Tuesday as hundreds of people gathered in the area from approximately 7pm.
The PSNI formed barricades while officers wearing armour and shields also responded to the disorder. Some masked protesters shouted abuse and threw objects at the police, including fireworks, glass bottles and pieces of metal.
The PSNI advised those present to disperse and warned that water cannon would be deployed against those participating in violent activity.
Police fired plastic baton rounds at some of those gathered and also used water cannons to disperse the crowd.