Helicopter search and police response after three men reported to flee animal trailer in rural Ballymena

The Rathkeel Road in the Broughshane area of Ballymena

A quiet rural stretch outside Ballymena was plunged into uncertainty on Thursday night after three men reportedly jumped from a trailer transporting animals and fled into the surrounding countryside, prompting a police search involving a helicopter.

The incident unfolded between approximately 9pm and 10pm on 30 April in the Rathkeel Road area near Broughshane, with residents left shaken as officers moved quickly to track those who had run from the vehicle.

Residents alerted by helicopter overhead

One local resident, who lives along Rathkeel Road, described how the evening took an alarming turn after initially mistaking the aircraft overhead for an emergency medical response.

“I was sitting watching TV and heard a helicopter. I said a prayer, thinking it was for someone injured, only for it to circle back. Then we joked with each other that one or other of us had done something wrong, only to see a police car fly down the lane.

“They informed us that three illegal immigrants - two running towards our house and one towards the road - had jumped out of a trailer that had been delivering imported animals to a farmer when the door was opened. They had been circling us for nearly an hour. Not going to lie, it was pretty scary.

“This is in the Rathkeel Road area, so anyone in the surrounding areas should keep watch.”

Men fled in different directions as search began

According to the account provided, the three men split up immediately after leaving the trailer, with one heading towards the main road and two moving deeper into the rural area.

“The area around my house is quite secluded, so it was an unsettled night for us,” the resident added, highlighting the isolation of properties along the road and the heightened sense of vulnerability as the search continued.

Police activity, including the helicopter circling overhead for close to an hour, intensified the sense of urgency and concern among those living nearby.

“It hadn’t long gotten dark. If we hadn’t heard the helicopter, we wouldn’t even have known anything about it. I heard it and said a prayer, thinking it was the air ambulance, until it kept circling round.”

Frustration over lack of information

The resident also expressed frustration at what they described as limited communication from police at the time, saying they had to actively seek out information from officers.

“The police didn’t seem too concerned about telling us what had happened - it was only because we waved them back down the lane to ask what was going on. It was quite infuriating, to be honest. I know they were trying to find them as quickly as possible and probably didn’t want to waste time informing us, but it was very unnerving.”

Unconfirmed reports suggest two individuals may have been apprehended.

PSNI confirms investigation but releases few details

When contacted for clarification, the Police Service of Northern Ireland provided only a brief statement and did not confirm specific details surrounding the incident.

A spokesperson for the PSNI said:

“Police are investigating circumstances in relation to an incident in the Ballymena area, which was reported to police last night, Thursday, 30th April.

“There is no further information available at this time.”

The absence of detail leaves key questions unanswered, including the origin of the trailer, the circumstances surrounding the men being inside it, and whether all those involved have now been located.

Unsettling night for rural community

For residents along Rathkeel Road and surrounding areas, the incident has left a lingering sense of unease, particularly given how close the situation came to homes in an otherwise quiet and secluded part of the borough.

With limited official information released so far, the full picture of what happened on Thursday night remains unclear, as police inquiries continue.

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At a glance

• Incident occurred Thursday 30 April between around 9pm and 10pm

• Location: Rathkeel Road area near Broughshane, Ballymena

• Three men reportedly jumped from an animal trailer when it was opened

• Two ran towards a rural property, one towards the road

• Police helicopter circled area for close to an hour

• Residents described the situation as “pretty scary” and unsettling

• Frustration expressed over lack of immediate information from police

• PSNI confirmed investigation but released no further details

• Unconfirmed reports suggest two individuals may have been apprehended