3 July 2025, 14:23<\/p>\n
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The Chief Constable said every incident during the disturbances was being treated as a racially or sectarian motivated hate crime.<\/p>\n
Picture: More than 100 police officers were injured during recent rioting in Northern Ireland, PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has revealed.<\/p>\n Mr Boutcher said the actions of his officers had saved lives during the first night of racist violence in Ballymena last month.<\/a><\/p>\n However, he warned that a budget crisis facing the force means that its reliance on external support is apparent.<\/p>\n Violence erupted in Ballymena in June after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the town. Two 14-year-old boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, were charged with attempted rape.<\/p>\n A peaceful protest in the Co Antrim town about the alleged assault was followed by attacks on police and properties housing ethnic minorities, described by police as \u201cracist thuggery\u201d.<\/p>\n Read more: <\/strong>Man, 25, arrested over fire at leisure centre housing migrants as Northern Ireland gripped by unrest<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Read more: <\/strong>Police working \u2018night and day\u2019 to catch those involved in Northern Ireland riots<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The disturbances lasted for several nights and spread to other areas of Northern Ireland including Portadown, Larne, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Londonderry and Coleraine.<\/p>\n Police also dealt with several nights of sectarian disorder in Londonderry.<\/p>\n Speaking during the monthly accountability meeting of the Policing Board, Mr Boutcher said Northern Ireland had experienced \u201cwidespread racially and sectarian motivated rioting and disorder\u201d in the past month.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cIn disgraceful scenes reminiscent of last summer, we saw hate-filled mobs throw petrol bombs, masonry, fireworks, an axe, at police officers, targeting homes and businesses.<\/p>\n LBC caller from Northern Ireland warns trauma will perpetuate conflict in Middle East<\/p>\n \u201cThey targeted law-abiding, decent families from diverse communities who make Northern Ireland a better place, creating fear in people who simply want to live in peace.<\/p>\n \u201cI can confirm the final number of injured officers as 107, many with head injuries from masonry and other missiles.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cThere is no place for such violence, these actions were not about protest, they were attacks on the very fabric of our society.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat sort of Northern Ireland do we want to live in?\u201d<\/p>\n The Chief Constable said every incident during the disturbances was being treated as a racially or sectarian motivated hate crime.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cTo date 56 arrests have been made and 27 individuals remanded into custody.<\/p>\n \u201cMore will follow as we pursue those responsible and bring them to justice.<\/p>\n \u201cThe deterrents of long prison sentences will be a sobering reality for many of those involved.<\/p>\n \u201cOur own no-nonsense approach of arresting suspects with the swift release of suspect images had a further powerful deterrent effect.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe will use the most appropriate tactics, including AEP (attenuating energy projectiles) and water cannon to protect communities and my officers from harm.<\/p>\n \u201cOur approach will be robust and it will be consistently applied.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Boutcher referred to commentary suggesting rioters were treated differently in separate parts of Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n Violence erupted in Ballymena in June after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the town.<\/p>\n
\nAlamy
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