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Five arrests over estate trouble | Five arrests over estate trouble |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Five men have been arrested after trouble in a Ballymena housing estate. | |
A crowd, including a number of men with sticks and other weapons, gathered in Sandown Park in the Doury Road estate. | A crowd, including a number of men with sticks and other weapons, gathered in Sandown Park in the Doury Road estate. |
A man was assaulted and suffered a suspected broken arm. A flat was also damaged in a fire and a car attacked. A second flat was damaged on Sunday. | |
Although no motive has been established for the violence, police have said a drugs link is one of their lines of inquiry. | |
Both homes sustained smoke damage and although they were occupied, the residents were not inside. | |
Items, including a crossbow bolt, were recovered by police after Saturday afternoon's trouble. | Items, including a crossbow bolt, were recovered by police after Saturday afternoon's trouble. |
The five men who were arrested are aged 22, 25, 27, 36 and 45. | The five men who were arrested are aged 22, 25, 27, 36 and 45. |
All of this appears to be associated with what are widely believed to be two deaths in the community which are associated with drugs Declan O'Loan SDLP | |
SDLP assembly member Declan O'Loan urged people to calm down and use "the proper agencies of the law". | |
"Clearly there is very, very serious activity and criminal activity happening in Ballymena at the moment," he said. | |
"All of this appears to be associated with what are widely believed to be two deaths in the community which are associated with drugs. | |
"It would seem as a consequence of those heightened emotions that certain people are taking further action into their own hands. This is extremely dangerous and who knows where it could lead." |