Man charged over arson attack on leisure centre during riots

A man has been charged to court over an arson attack at a Co Antrim leisure centre during rioting in the summer.

Race-related anti-immigration violence flared in Ballymena in June before spreading to other parts of Northern Ireland in subsequent days.

During the disorder, a leisure centre in Larne that had been temporarily used to house migrants whose homes had been targeted in Ballymena, was attacked.

The centre was extensively damaged in the arson attack and remained closed for several months.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it had now charged a man with offences related to the incident.

The 25-year-old is charged with arson, riotous behaviour and criminal damage.

He has also been reported to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) for conspiracy to commit arson being reckless as to endanger life.

He is due to appear before Ballymena Magistrates’ Court on December 18.

Police said a 32-year-old man, who was also arrested and released on bail in June, has been reported to the PPS for conspiracy to commit arson being reckless as to endanger life, riotous behaviour and assisting offenders.

Police revealed last month they have made 100 arrests since the serious rioting erupted.

The violence began in June after two teenage boys, who spoke to a court through a Romanian interpreter, were charged with the attempted rape of a young girl in Ballymena.

A peaceful protest in the Co Antrim town was followed by attacks on police and properties housing ethnic minorities, described by police at the time as “racist thuggery”.

The disturbances lasted for several nights and spread to other areas of Northern Ireland including Portadown, Larne, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Londonderry and Coleraine.

The PPS revealed last month that the charges against the two boys were being withdrawn because of “significant evidential developments” in the case.