NI Fire & Rescue Service responds to series of overnight fires in Ballymena

Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) was stretched across Ballymena overnight as crews responded to a series of serious incidents involving house and car fires across the town.

In total, firefighters tackled four separate fire incidents, including three house fires and one vehicle blaze, which are being treated as part of a wider outbreak of violence in the area linked to public disorder on Monday night which flared following the sexual assault of a teenage girl in the town.

A spokesperson for the NIFRS confirmed the scale of the response, stating:

“NIFRS responded to four incidents in the Ballymena area overnight which involved house fires and a car fire.

“Firefighters from Ballymena, Antrim, Kilrea, Ballyclare, Ballymoney, Springfield, Magherafelt, Maghera, Whitla and Coleraine Stations attended the incidents and extinguished the fires.”

The most serious of the incidents took place in Clonavon Terrace, where two house fires broke out in quick succession.

“At a house fire in Clonavon Terrace, Firefighters evacuated seven people. A second house fire in Clonavon Terrace was extinguished and Firefighters returned this morning to the property due to a suspected gas leak,” the spokesperson added.

Elsewhere, a property on Larne Street was also targeted. According to NIFRS, that house fire was initially extinguished but was later reignited, prompting a return by fire crews.

Emergency services were further deployed to Tober Park, in Cullybackey, where a car was set alight. The fire spread, causing damage to nearby property and resulting in three casualties, who were transferred to the care of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.

These incidents followed widespread disorder in Ballymena on Monday evening, during which petrol bombs and masonry were thrown at police officers. Authorities have confirmed that they are treating the incidents of disorder as racially motivated hate crimes.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) reported that 15 officers were injured during sustained rioting across parts of the town, including Clonavon Terrace and Galgorm Street.

One man has been arrested so far, and investigations are ongoing.

Community impact and official response

The overnight civic unrest has drawn concern from local political leaders, who are calling for calm and unity.

Justice, not violence, must prevail – Frew

DUP MLA for North Antrim, Paul Frew, has condemned those responsible for the violent scenes in Ballymena on Monday night and has called for calm, reiterating his long-standing warnings about rising tensions in the area.

Mr Frew said:

“My thoughts are first and foremost with the victim of the sexual assault with whom the community gathered to stand in solidarity with. We must never lose sight of this family’s suffering. I pay tribute to the thousands of people who came out in Ballymena to peacefully stand against violence towards women and girls.

“That powerful message must not be lost or diluted by those who choose destruction over justice. I totally condemn the violence that occurred in Ballymena on Monday evening. I feared this would happen. For weeks and months, I have been warning about rising tensions, and sadly those warnings have now come true.

“There is no justification for what happened. Violence is always wrong. It solves nothing and serves only to retraumatise a community. I want to thank the PSNI and NIFRS for their actions last night in what was an extremely challenging situation.

“The answer always lies in the justice system, not street violence. The people responsible for recent crimes must be dealt with by the full force of the law. That is where accountability lies.”

Quigley urges calm and support for ongoing investigation

Ballymena Councillor Rodney Quigley has expressed solidarity with the family of the young girl at the centre of recent events and appealed for calm across the community.

“Over the last 24 hours I have been engaging with the family of the young girl who was the victim of this horrendous attack. I have also been talking to the PSNI and other agencies about what has happened and community tensions.

“I would appeal to everyone in the community to allow the PSNI time and space to conduct their investigation.”

Cllr Lawrie Philpott: “This is not what Ballymena stands for”

Councillor Lawrie Philpott, Ballymena, praised the peaceful majority who turned out in solidarity while condemning those who later engaged in disorder:

“I would like to congratulate all of the people of Ballymena and beyond that turned out last night for a dignified and peaceful show of solidarity for all victims against women and girls.

“Unfortunately, as the main body present were dispersing, other younger groups decided it a good idea to go in the direction of Clonavon Terrace to reek nothing but destruction.

“This is not what the families directly affected and the good people of Ballymena want to be associated with. This riotous behaviour must be condemned from all quarters in society. Let the authorities do their job unhindered.”

Mulholland Condemns Violence in Ballymena

Alliance North Antrim MLA Sian Mulholland has described the violence witnessed in Ballymena on Sunday night as “reprehensible”, expressing disappointment that a peaceful protest was hijacked by those intent on causing unrest.

“Last night, hundreds of people gathered in Ballymena to take part in a peaceful demonstration, standing in solidarity with a family who has suffered a horrendous crime. The vast majority came to show support with dignity and respect, united in compassion and community spirit.

“The violence we saw afterwards however, perpetrated by a small number of instigators against the wishes of the protest organisers, was totally reprehensible. The videos emerging this morning and the stories we’re hearing of homes being attacked, racist chanting, and the targeting of police are truly shocking and have left the community reeling.

“Those individuals do not represent the majority of those who peacefully protested in Ballymena, and they have achieved nothing other than mindless destruction within the community and the sowing of fear and division that has no place in our society. My thoughts are with the family who organised the demonstration, anyone made victim in the attacks, and, ultimately, the young girl at the heart of this.

“I also want to thank the PSNI and the NIFRS for their work last night in what were unimaginably difficult circumstances, and reiterate calls for calm going forward before this ends in someone being seriously injured or worse.

“Now is the time for true political and community leadership as we hope to start healing as a community.”