Late on Sunday night, the quiet of Lisnevenagh Road near Ballymena, County Antrim, was shattered by the crackle of flames and the acrid smell of burning vehicles. Six cars, parked outside a home rented to Filipino workers, were set alight and destroyed in what police are now treating as a racially-motivated hate crime. The attack, which occurred on August 31, 2025, has sent shockwaves through the local community and reignited urgent conversations about the rise of race hate crimes in Northern Ireland.
The property’s landlord, Sam Carson, is a local farmer who has rented the house to six Filipino men for about two years. These tenants, employed by a large nearby business, were inside the house when the attack took place. For Carson, the incident was not just an act of property destruction—it was deeply personal and frightening. "Since the riots, we've had a hate campaign on TikTok, against myself and against my tenants, but thought nothing of it," Carson told BBC News NI. "Some people in Ballymena do not like foreign nationals, even though they are good working people, they don't understand that."
Carson’s sense of security has been shaken. He described his tenants as "peaceful people, working hard," and said he had never experienced any trouble until the Ballymena riots in June. The online hate campaign that followed, primarily on TikTok, targeted both Carson and his tenants, fueling a climate of suspicion and hostility. "Social media has a real problem with misinformation, and there seems there is nothing the police can do," he lamented to BBC News NI.
For the Filipino tenants, the ordeal was both bewildering and terrifying. One of the victims, who wished to remain anonymous, recounted the night’s events 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." The man expressed confusion over the attack, saying, "I didn't know we had enemies here. 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 police received the report at around 10:10 pm on Sunday night. A spokesperson confirmed, "We received a report at around 10.10pm that six vehicles had been set alight and were destroyed. Our enquiries are ongoing and, at this time, we are treating this as arson with a racially-motivated hate element. We are appealing to anyone who might have any information which may assist us, to get in touch."
This attack is not an isolated incident. Just days before, on Thursday, August 28, three homes in north Belfast were targeted in what police also suspect are racially-motivated attacks. At one house, where a woman and her two children (aged 12 and 14) live, the living room window was smashed and graffiti reading "locals only" was daubed on the walls. Two other homes in Manor Street and nearby Summerhill Court were also damaged. Police are actively investigating a potential link between all three incidents.
The wave of attacks continued on Saturday, August 30, when a window was smashed and graffiti was scrawled on the wall of a property in the Killaughey Road area of Donaghadee, County Down. A woman and her three young children were inside the home at the time. Police have confirmed that this attack, too, is being treated as racially motivated.
These events come amid a worrying surge in race hate crimes across Northern Ireland. According to recent data, the 12 months leading up to the end of June 2025 saw a record 1,329 crimes with a racial motivation—a staggering increase of 434 from the previous year and the highest figure since records began in 2004. The trend is deeply troubling for community leaders, law enforcement, and residents alike.
The reasons behind this spike are complex, but many point to the role of social media in amplifying xenophobic sentiments and spreading misinformation. Carson’s experience with online hate campaigns is not unique. Across the region, minority communities report being targeted both online and offline, often with little recourse. The sense of vulnerability is palpable, especially among those who, like the Filipino workers in Ballymena, have come to Northern Ireland seeking honest employment and a better life.
The Filipino community’s response has been one of resilience and a call for understanding. "Filipinos are in every country, just for work," the unnamed victim explained. "We are not illegal, we pay tax. Please don't attack us personally, we can fix everything in a peaceful way." It’s a plea that echoes far beyond the boundaries of Ballymena, resonating with immigrant communities everywhere.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the Ballymena arson or the related attacks in Belfast and Donaghadee to come forward. While investigations are ongoing, the incidents have sparked renewed debate about how best to protect vulnerable communities and address the root causes of hate crime. Police are also examining the potential connections between the recent attacks, hoping to identify patterns that could lead to those responsible.
Community leaders warn that the consequences of unchecked hate can be severe—not just for the immediate victims, but for the fabric of society as a whole. When people are targeted because of their ethnicity or nationality, it erodes trust, stokes fear, and undermines the sense of belonging that is vital for any community to thrive.
For Sam Carson and his tenants, the days since the attack have been marked by anxiety and uncertainty. Carson has voiced fears for both his own safety and that of the people he houses. The Filipino workers, meanwhile, are left to wonder whether they will ever feel truly safe in their adopted home. "This has never happened before," the anonymous tenant reflected, still processing the shock. "We've lived here for about two and a half years."
As Northern Ireland grapples with a record high in race hate crimes, the events in Ballymena, Belfast, and Donaghadee serve as a stark reminder of the work that remains. It’s a challenge that will require not just law enforcement, but a broader commitment to fostering understanding, combating misinformation, and standing up for the rights and safety of all residents—no matter where they come from.
While the investigation continues, the hope is that those responsible will be brought to justice, and that the community can come together to ensure such acts of hate find no safe harbor in Northern Ireland.
