Charges over Ballymena riots as centre housing foreign families attacked
Three teenagers aged 18, 17 and 15 are charged with rioting, as the attack on Larne Leisure Centre, 25 minutes away, follows a third night of violence in Ballymena.
Thursday 12 June 2025 10:49, UK
Three teenagers have been charged with rioting in Ballymena - as a community centre housing migrant families affected by the violence was attacked.
An 18-year-old man, and two boys aged 15 and 17, are expected to appear before Ballymena Magistrates' Court today. The 15-year-old has also been charged with criminal damage.
Two other teenage boys who were arrested during the disorder have been released on bail, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said.
Masked youths attacked Larne Leisure Centre and set it on fire on Wednesday evening after it emerged some of the foreign families fleeing the rioting were being temporarily held there.
There have been calls for Northern Ireland's communities minister to resign after he was accused of inflaming tensions in a social media post.
Prior to the attack, he wrote he had been made aware individuals had been "temporarily moved" to the building "following the disturbances in Ballymena", which is around 25 minutes away.
Police said ethnic minorities had been targeted in the violence, which they have described as "racist thuggery".
Eyewitness: It is hard to see where the violence will end
Mr Lyons said in his post: "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."
Some politicians have said Mr Lyons should be considering his position, while Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said it was not helpful to publicise where people had been moved.
Asked if he should still be in his job, he told the BBC Good Morning Ulster programme: "Absolutely."
He insisted the information was already in the "public domain".
Read more: Families flee Ballymena riots
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Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said the leisure centre had been designated as an emergency rest centre, but the families had been safely relocated elsewhere.
The fire in Larne coincided with a third night of violence in Ballymena.