33 h. ago The Guardian view on riots in Northern Ireland: racist violence does not express ‘legitimate grievance’ | Editorial

Politicians must analyse the forces behind mob unrest, but not in terms that make excuses for itA reputation for political violence is one reason Northern Ireland has historically attracted fewer immigrants than the rest of the UK. In that context, increasing diversity could be read as a measure of progress; a peace dividend after the Troubles. That isn’t how it has felt to families cowering in fear of racist mobs this week. The riots started in Ballymena, ostensibly triggered by the arrest of two boys, reported to be of Romanian origin, accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl. A community vigil mutated into a racist rampage. Masked thugs targeted the local migrant population. When police came to quell the pogrom, officers were attacked with bricks, fireworks, petrol bombs. There was contagion. Windows were smashed and a fire started at a leisure centre in nearby Larne that had been used as a temporary refuge for those fleeing the Ballymena violence. There were outbreaks of di...

Events

35 h. ago Criminal gangs run riot due to '£1.2billion shortfall' in police funding

Gangster are likely to be laughing all the way to robbing a bank as a lack of police funding will mean a lot of crimes will be 'decriminalised'

Economics

52 h. ago Riot police out for fourth night as fire on street and rocks thrown at cops in UK town

The violent scenes comes after three nights of violence in towns across Northern Ireland saw cops pelted with petrol bombs and foreign families targetted by masked thugs

Events

58 h. ago Four people charged and two others arrested following disorder in Salford

Riot police were drafted in after disorder broke out on Wednesday (June 11)

Events

58 h. ago Michelle O’Neil accuses DUP minister of inflaming racial tensions on social media

Gordon Lyons rejects calls to resign after posting information about leisure centre hours before it was set on fireNorthern Ireland’s first minister has accused a DUP politician of “inflaming” tensions, as the display of political unity after three nights of violence fractured when a leisure centre in Larne was set on fire.Gordon Lyons, the communities minister, should “consider his position”, Michelle O’Neill said. Hours before the centre was set on fire by a mob of masked youths, Lyons had posted on social media that the building was used to accommodate several people who had fled from Ballymena, about 20 miles (32km) away. Continue reading...

Politics

62 h. ago Northern Ireland minister rejects call to resign as political unity over riots cracks

DUP’s Gordon Lyons criticised for social media post about leisure centre before it was set on fire by masked attackers A minister in Northern Ireland has rejected calls to resign, as the display of political unity amid three nights of violence fractured after a leisure centre in Larne was set on fire.Staff and customers, including children learning to swim, were in the building at the time. The attack coincided with violent scenes amid tensions over immigration in the nearby town of Ballymena. Continue reading...

Politics

64 h. ago Olympic swimmer speaks of devastation after attack on leisure centre

Danielle Hill is a member of Larne Swimming Club and also coaches younger children at the club.

Events

67 h. ago Lyons insists he will not resign following criticism of social media post

Masked youths attacked the Larne Leisure Centre on Wednesday night and set it on fire.

Politics

68 h. ago Violence erupts for third night in UK town as rioters set leisure centre on fire

Homes have been evacuated and a leisure centre housing migrants has been set alight

Events

3 d. ago Ballymena riots: DUP minister to be referred to standards commissioner after leisure centre fire

Prior to the fire, Gordon Lyons posted on social media that the leisure centre had been used to accommodate several people following riotous behaviour in the town of Ballymena

Politics

3 d. ago Police come under attack during third night of disorder in Ballymena

Elsewhere, a leisure centre in Larne was set on fire.

Events

3 d. ago Minister to be referred to standards commissioner following Larne fire

A fire broke out at Larne Leisure centre following vandalism at the facility on the third night of disorder in Northern Ireland.

Politics

3 d. ago Salford riots aftermath as locals say they've been 'terrorised' by hooded youths for weeks

Wheelie bins were used to block the road during the 'serious disorder', a 16-year-old girl has been arrested and police in riot gear patrolled the area in Salford - but locals fear there's more to come

Events

3 d. ago ‘Masked thugs’ start fire at leisure centre on third night of violence in Northern Ireland

The PSNI deployed riot police in Ballymena for a third night as a significant crowd gathered in the area

Events

3 d. ago Riot police at leisure centre blaze after 'masked thug's' cause disorder in UK town

Riots continue in Northern Ireland for the third night, as youth storm Larne Leisure Centre to smash window and set wheelie bins on fire before placing them inside

Events

3 d. ago Footage shows mayhem on Salford street during 'serious disorder' as cars and bikes screech down road

Riot police were called to disorder

Transport

3 d. ago "I left this morning and everything was fine, I can’t believe something like this has happened"

Riot police were called to 'serious disorder' on a Greater Manchester street today

Politics

3 d. ago Riot police descend on Salford as '60 youths' spark chaos on street

A car has been torched and another smashed to pieces in the mayhem.

Events

3 d. ago Police deployed to tackle ‘dozens of youths causing serious disorder’ in Salford

Police are dealing with “serious disorder” reportedly involving dozens of youths in Salford.

Events

3 d. ago Salford riots LIVE: Serious disorder as '60 youths block road' and car burns

Witnesses described as many as 60 youths blocking a road in Salford, Greater Manchester, with riot police responding and images showing a car on fire at the scene

Events