Ballymena riot LIVE: Fireworks hurled at armoured vehicles as police urge 'avoid the area'

During the second day of public disorder, multiple cars and properties were set on fire in Ballymena while rioters hurled petrol bombs, fireworks and masonry at police officers.

Police declared the riots were over after their five-hour battle to contain "serious disorder" in Ballymena, which has seen a property on Bridge Street and a home on Queen Street be set on fire. Facing waves of thrown objects, officers deployed water cannons and plastic baton rounds.

In a statement at 2am, police said: "Calm has been restored in Ballymena following serious disorder in the Clonavon Terrace, North Road and Bridge Street areas last night.

"Disorder broke out shortly before 8pm and continued for several hours with masonry and petrol bombs thrown at police officers and police vehicles. A number of homes and businesses were also attacked.

"During the disorder, authorised officers discharged a number of Attenuating Energy Projectiles (AEPs) and the water cannon was also deployed in an attempt to disperse the crowds. Calm was restored to the area at around 1am."

Labour's Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, has released a statement after a second night of violent disorder in Ballymena.

Hilary Benn said: "The terrible scenes of civil disorder we have witnessed in Ballymena again this evening have no place in Northern Ireland.

"There is absolutely no justification for attacks on PSNI officers or for vandalism directed at people’s homes or property."

The earlier burning of homes and vehicles appears to have stopped after crowds began to dissipate and police vans swept up suspected offenders, with the assistance of aerial drones.

UUP Councillor for Ards & North Down Pete Wray has slammed the motives behind the ongoing unrest in Ballymena as 'the height of idiocy.

In a statement, Cllr Pete Wray said: "The rioting in Ballymena is disgusting. There is no excuse. To attack police officers, destroy property, and put residents in danger is abhorrent.

"To say 'Im concerned about criminal activity, so Im going to take part in criminal activity to protest', is the height of idiocy."

With the protest splitting into smaller groups, police are fighting unrest across different areas of Ballymena. It appears that at least two more homes have been damaged by fire in the last few hours.

In one incident, people could be seen rushing into the neighbouring home of a property that was fully ablaze, rescuing what appeared to be a family sheltering from the riot inside.

Meanwhile, people on the ground have reported undercover officers arriving in unmarked vans and sweeping up groups of people suspected of committing violent disorder.

Officers are continuing to marshal large crowds of people around Ballymena, as more damage is incurred to property across the town. Near Queen Street, police vans could be seen charging through makeshift barricades while masked youths continued to throw objects at them.

Some of those watching the disorder are residents, attempting to protect their cars and homes. "You're doing this to our own neighbourhood," one of the street's residents said to a man filming the unrest.

He asked what it had to do with him as he was merely watching, and the man responded by asking him to leave, saying, "You're not exactly helping, are you?"

Minutes later, reinforcements arrived, with police warning over a loudspeaker: "Unless you disperse immediately, water cannon will be used against those engaging in violent activity."

Violence against police officers and property is continuing around Ballymena, with arrests appearing to be made amid the ongoing clashes.

Recent videos of the unrest show riot police charging lines of missile-throwing thugs, who have also been seen kicking in doors and smashing windows across Ballymena tonight.

Credit: Belfast Telegraph.

A balaclava-wearing rioter who was throwing objects at police in Ballymena received almost instant karma for his actions, after an attempt to lob a petrol bomb at officers severely backfired.

One such masked individual made the failed attempt to chuck a Molotov cocktail at riot police on the second night of disorder that has broken out today.

Wearing a light grey tracksuit with its hood up, videos circulating on social media show the rioter attempting to lob a flaming bottle. However, something goes wrong and they find themselves covered in the burning liquid.

In a panic, the individual turns to the crowd behind him and begins to gingerly run towards them, while the flames appear to grow and take hold over their rear end.

Read the full story here.

In a statement following the disorder on Monday, Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said it should be "loudly condemned by all right-thinking people".

"Any attempt to justify or explain it as something else is misplaced," he added.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer also described Monday's violence as "very concerning".

His official spokesperson said: “Obviously, the reports of sexual assault in the area are extremely distressing, but there is no justification for attacks on police officers while they continue to protect local communities.

“PSNI and the justice system must be allowed to carry out their jobs and our thoughts are with the victims of the assault as well as the police officers who were injured.”

Demonstrators have thrown missiles at police officers alongside fireworks, glass bottles and pieces of metal as violence in Ballymena continues to escalate for the second night in a row.

The disorder comes after a 29-year-old man was charged with riotous behaviour after he was arrested on Monday night. PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said he expects more people to be arrested after video footage is examined.

Vehicles have been set on fire and the windows of multiple houses smashed as violent rioting in the County Antrim town continues tonight.

People in masks and hoods can be seen lighting piles of rubbish on fire in the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena as police respond to "serious disorder" in the town for the second night running.

PSNI vehicles have formed barricades on some roads in the town, while officers wearing riot gear and carrying shields stand guard nearby.

Members of the public have reportedly shouted abuse and thrown fireworks, glass bottles and pieces of metal at the police.

Footage shared on social media shows buildings and vehicles on fire as protests in Ballymena descend into rioting for the second night in a row.

Protestors have begun throwing fireworks and other items at police riot vans parked in Ballymena. Officers wearing armour and carrying shields have also been hit by glass bottles and pieces of metal, according to reports.

Police responded by firing less-than-lethal rounds at some of the hundreds of people gathered in the town, and have also used a water cannon to disperse the crowds.

The streets of Ballymena descended into chaos last night as a community response to an alleged sexual assault turned into rioting - with petrol bombs thrown at officers and buildings damaged.

Around 2,500 people had gathered in solidarity with the female victim of an attempted rape that reportedly took place on Saturday, June 7. Two boys, both aged 14, were arrested in connection with the alleged crime and appeared in Coleraine Magistrates' Court on Monday. They denied the charge of attempted oral rape through a Romanian interpreter.

The PSNI said it had made a third arrest in connection with the incident on Tuesday.

Police in Northern Ireland have asked members of the public to avoid the Clonavon Terrace area in Ballymena due to "serious disorder".

"Police are currently dealing with serious disorder in the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena this evening," a spokesperson said.

"Members of the public should avoid the area. An update will be provided in due course."

Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of protests in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, after a demonstration against sexual assault in the town descended into looting on Monday night.

Stay tuned for updates as we get them.