Police use water cannons on day two of Ballymena unrest

Police used water cannon to disperse protesters engaged in serious disorder for a second night in Ballymena, as petrol bombs and masonry were thrown at officers.

- JONATHAN MCCAMBRIDGE

Riot police were deployed around the Clonavon Terrace area last night as hundreds of people gathered in the Co Antrim town.

Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) vehicles formed barricades on some roads while riot police wearing armour and carrying shields also responded to the disorder.

Some protesters shouted abuse and threw objects at the police, including fireworks, glass bottles and pieces of metal.

A car was set on fire near a car wash and tyre centre as part of a number of blazes started by protesters.

Police fired plastic baton rounds at some of those gathered and also used water cannons to disperse the crowd.

Multiple house windows were smashed during the unrest, and the clothing of at least one protester caught fire.

Many young children were present among those gathered near police lines.

Repeatedly using water cannons, PSNI – accompanied by dog units – moved protesters away from Clonavon Terace towards the junction of Bridge Street and North Street near a mural of King William.

Some homes in the area displayed signs about the nationalities of those normally resident, including one saying “British household” and another with “Filipino lives here”.

It comes after violent disorder on Monday, following an earlier peaceful protest in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the area.