Twenty-eight people have now been arrested over violence that erupted in Northern Ireland over the last week - and police have warned that there will be further arrests. In total, 64 police officers have beeninjured in disturbances which started last Mondayafter a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena, County Antrim, and later spread to other areas. In the latest round of arrests, five people have been detained in connection with disorder in Ballymena and Larne. A 40-year-old man, a 33-year-old woman and a 13-year-old girl have been charged in connection with the rioting in Ballymena. Detectives investigating online posts relating to the disorder have charged a 32-year-old man with sending menacing messages through a public electronic communications network and encouraging or assisting offences. Meanwhile, a 25-year-old man has also been arrested in relation to an arson attack at Larne Leisure Centre last week. The centrehad been providing emergency shelter for families following the clashes earlier this week, the council said. A 56-year-old woman has also appeared in court charged with obstructing a police officer during last week's riots. Police said there had been "sporadic disturbances" in different locations on Sunday night but described it as a "reduced level of disorder". Overnight graffiti in Bangor, County Down and on an unoccupied house in Chadwick Street in south Belfast are being treated as race-motivated hate crimes, the police said. In Brompton Park in Ardoyne, in Belfast, about 30 young people set a bin on fire but no damage was caused to shops and police said "no serious disorder ensued". Ass Ch Cons Melanie Jones said "Our heightened presence in our local communities and continued community engagement to de-escalate violence continued last night, thankfully, similar to Saturday, the situation was much calmer. "Thankfully, none of our officers policing this disorder reported being injured on duty last night (Sunday)." Police have already circulated images of individuals they want to identify and interview.
Twenty-eight arrests made over recent disorder
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"Police Arrest 28 Individuals Following Violent Unrest in Northern Ireland"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
In Northern Ireland, the aftermath of recent violent disturbances has led to a total of 28 arrests, with authorities indicating that more arrests may occur as investigations continue. The unrest began following a peaceful protest in Ballymena, County Antrim, regarding an alleged sexual assault, which subsequently escalated into violence affecting various regions. Over the course of the disturbances, 64 police officers have sustained injuries. In the latest developments, law enforcement has apprehended five individuals connected to the rioting in Ballymena and Larne, including a 40-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman, along with a 13-year-old girl. Additionally, a 32-year-old man has been charged for sending menacing online messages related to the unrest and for encouraging criminal behavior. Authorities have also taken action against a 25-year-old man in connection with an arson incident at the Larne Leisure Centre, which was serving as emergency shelter for families displaced by the violence. Furthermore, a 56-year-old woman faces charges for obstructing police during the riots.
Despite the recent chaos, police reported a decrease in disorder over the weekend, with only sporadic disturbances noted. Incidents of graffiti in Bangor and south Belfast are now being classified as race-motivated hate crimes by the police. In a separate incident, a small group of young people in Belfast set a bin on fire, but this did not escalate to serious damage or disorder. Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones highlighted the police's proactive measures, including increased community engagement, which have contributed to a calmer environment. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries among officers during the latest policing efforts. Police continue to seek assistance from the public in identifying individuals involved in the disturbances, as they work to restore order in the affected communities.
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