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Church paint attacks 'sectarian' Church paint attacks 'sectarian'
(10 minutes later)
Four Catholic churches in the Ballymena area have been damaged in sectarian attacks.Four Catholic churches in the Ballymena area have been damaged in sectarian attacks.
Paint was thrown at churches on Crebilly Road, Larne Road and in Cullybackey.Paint was thrown at churches on Crebilly Road, Larne Road and in Cullybackey.
A church and headstones on the Portglenone Road in Ahoghill were also targeted. The attacks took place early on Thursday morning.A church and headstones on the Portglenone Road in Ahoghill were also targeted. The attacks took place early on Thursday morning.
Elsewhere, a car was driven into the grounds of a GAA club in the Ahoghill area and set on fire.
Police said the gates to the premises on the Crosskeys Road were forced open during the incident, but no damage was caused to the building or pitch.
They are investigating the possibility that this attack may be linked to the other incidents in the Ballymena and Ahoghill areas.
The Mayor of Ballymena, James Currie, said the attacks were not a "true reflection" of life in the area.The Mayor of Ballymena, James Currie, said the attacks were not a "true reflection" of life in the area.
"It does nothing to attract business, to attract tourists and I condemn it on all sides," the Ulster Unionist councillor said."It does nothing to attract business, to attract tourists and I condemn it on all sides," the Ulster Unionist councillor said.
"I condemn the people who damage Orange halls, I condemn the people who damage Roman Catholic churches."I condemn the people who damage Orange halls, I condemn the people who damage Roman Catholic churches.
"They are not helping this country or any citizen of it one iota.""They are not helping this country or any citizen of it one iota."
SDLP MLA for North Antrim, Declan O'Loan, said the attack was a "disgraceful episode for the Ballymena area".SDLP MLA for North Antrim, Declan O'Loan, said the attack was a "disgraceful episode for the Ballymena area".
"Generally, Ballymena has been much more settled recently but there has been a state of nervousness and tension in the area, particularly about the flags disputes that has now manifested into these attacks," he said."Generally, Ballymena has been much more settled recently but there has been a state of nervousness and tension in the area, particularly about the flags disputes that has now manifested into these attacks," he said.
"It's reminiscent of the type of thing that happened not too many years ago when we used to hear of attacks happening through the night all too often, but we've had nothing like that for a good period of time so it's certainly very worrying and very distressing.""It's reminiscent of the type of thing that happened not too many years ago when we used to hear of attacks happening through the night all too often, but we've had nothing like that for a good period of time so it's certainly very worrying and very distressing."