On the night of August 31, 2025, the quiet of Lisnevenagh Road near Ballymena, County Antrim, was shattered when six vehicles parked outside a house occupied by Filipino workers were set ablaze. The attack, which unfolded while the tenants were inside, has been described by police as a racially-motivated hate crime and has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting a disturbing rise in race-related violence in Northern Ireland.
Sam Carson, the landlord and a local farmer, has found himself at the center of this storm. Carson, who has housed Filipino workers in his properties for over two years, told BBC News NI that he now fears for both his own safety and that of his tenants. "We were in great panic. We didn't know whether we would be attacked. We saw flames on the vehicles and it was all a great shock," Carson recalled. "Everybody was very fearful."
The six Filipino tenants, all employed by the nearby manufacturer Wrightbus, were inside the property when the cars were deliberately set on fire. One tenant, who preferred not to be named, described the terrifying ordeal to BBC News NI: "I didn't expect this, I was just planning on getting some sleep and going to work tomorrow. This has never happened before. We've lived here for about two and a half years." He added, "We didn't come here for any reason, Filipinos are in every country, just for work, we are not illegal, we pay tax. Please don't attack us personally, we can fix everything in a peaceful way."
The incident is the latest in a series of racially motivated crimes to hit Ballymena and the wider region. According to the PSNI, in the 12 months leading up to the end of June 2025, there were 1,329 race-motivated crimes in Northern Ireland—a staggering increase of 434 from the previous year and the highest figure since records began in 2004. Additional attacks have included smashed windows and racist graffiti targeting homes in Ballymena and Donaghadee, some of which housed women and children.
Carson believes the attack is directly linked to an "online hate campaign" that began after the Ballymena riots in June 2025. He recounted to National World and the PA news agency how social media posts accused him of "bringing in illegal immigrants," a claim he flatly denies. "The first post was in June. It said there is a man who brings in illegal immigrants, a totally wrong fictitious allegation. Those posts continued and then we had a post naming me. Then we had a post saying where I and my tenants live."
Carson reported the online abuse to police on August 21, 2025, but was told officers could do nothing about the misinformation and threats circulating on TikTok and other platforms. "Now if they can do nothing, the politicians have to sort that out. Something has to change. It wears you down. We basically knew we were going to be attacked and the police said they could do nothing, and then we were attacked," Carson told BBC News NI. "Social media has a real problem with misinformation, and there seems there is nothing the police can do."
Political leaders from across the spectrum have condemned the attack. Sinn Féin assembly member Philip McGuigan called it "absolutely outrageous," adding, "This is a continuation of the disgraceful, evil and reprehensible racist attacks that fly in the face of the vast majority of the people and communities who are welcoming and embrace diversity." McGuigan urged, "This racist attack is to be condemned in the strongest terms by all, we need to all stand together, and show strong leadership. Racism has no place in this community and I would appeal to anyone with information about this attack to bring it to the police."
Jon Burrows, assembly member for the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), described the incident as "a disgraceful attack on law abiding and hard working people who make a significant contribution to the local economy." He expressed surprise that police had not found a crime of incitement or harassment in the online campaign and called for increased patrols to reassure the community and deter further attacks. "To start posting the details and the address of someone who houses legal migrants and spread disinformation about them, in my view, is likely to be a crime," Burrows said.
Jim Allister, MP for North Antrim representing the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), emphasized the danger posed by the attack: "Six cars were deliberately set alight while the tenants were inside, a situation that could have tragically resulted in serious injuries or worse. Once a car is set on fire you have no telling what could happen. Quite apart from the destruction of the vehicle, the fire could easily have spread." Allister was keen to stress that "this is not a case of illegal immigration. These individuals have come to Northern Ireland to work and to take up employment. They are here legally and are contributing to the local economy."
Local employers have also stepped up to support affected workers. Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing NI, told BBC News NI that companies in Ballymena have been explaining to their staff that such violence is unacceptable and offering assistance, including help with housing and liaising with police. "That's what good employers have always been doing, regardless of whether they're Filipino or whether they're from Portglenone," Kelly said, noting the "enormous contribution" foreign workers make to the Northern Ireland economy.
Despite the outpouring of support, the fear remains palpable. Tenants described panicking during the attack and attempting to use a fire extinguisher to quell the flames, worried that the fire might spread to the house or cause explosions. The trauma of the event has left lasting scars, with one tenant telling the PA news agency: "We live here peacefully. We don’t know why they have attacked us. I like living here, people here are very kind people. I came here to work. We pay taxes, our purpose here is to go to work to get a better future for our family."
As police continue their investigation, they are appealing for anyone with information to come forward, quoting reference number 1473 31/08/25. The PSNI has reiterated that the arson is being treated as a racially-motivated hate crime and is part of a worrying trend of rising race hate incidents in the region.
For Carson and his tenants, the events of August 31 have underscored the urgent need for action—both to combat misinformation and to ensure the safety of all residents, regardless of their background. The hope among many in Ballymena is that, with stronger leadership and community solidarity, such scenes of fear and division will not be repeated.
