Share

Text size

Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgarian family forced to leave Ballymena amidst anti-immigrant riots in Northern Ireland

published on 6/12/25 12:21 PM

Photo: AP/BTA

Bulgarian mother Mika Koleva and her children were forced to leave Northern Ireland after her home in Ballymena, County Antrim, was attacked by protesters. “This is what makes me want to move out of here to save my children,” she told BBC News Northern Ireland.

Bulgarian mother of two leaving Ballymena 'to save my children'

“We know what’s going to happen. It's not possible to wait,” she said after protesters broke into her home on the evening of June 10 and caused significant damage.

Mika and her partner have a 15-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter. They came to Northern Ireland 10 years ago, have never caused any trouble, work, and their children go to school, Koleva told the media.

The protests began on June 9 after two teenagers of Romanian origin were accused of sexually assaulting a girl. Police described the violence as “racist hooliganism.” During the arson and pogroms against immigrants, some families put up posters with their nationality on their front doors to prevent attacks, the BBC reports.

Photos: AP/BTA
Edited by Ivo Ivanov
English version: Rositsa Petkova

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!

Radio Bulgaria News Bulgarians in Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Northern Ireland riots

Gallery

More from category

More than 86% of people say that wage growth in 2025 is not sufficient

The increase in the minimum wage is supported by 54.1% of Bulgarians. 1/3 of respondents believe that the minimum wage should be equal to the living wage. This is indicated by the results of a representative survey by the Myara..

published on 11/25/25 1:19 PM

President Rumen Radev: Peace in Ukraine will be written by the victors

“We see a rational plan for a quick peace from President Donald Trump, according to which the situation on the battlefield is developing extremely unfavorably for Ukraine, and he is trying to prevent a worse scenario and additional casualties,”..

published on 11/25/25 11:14 AM

Delyan Peevski

''DPS – New Beginning'' urges that local taxes remain unchanged in 2026

“I call on all representatives of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms in local government — mayors and municipal councilors — to ensure security and predictability for the people and to take the necessary steps to keep all local taxes and fees..

published on 11/25/25 10:02 AM

1
2
3
4
5
6
..
10

WEATHER

Pick city: Sofía

Mostly Cloudy
Min: 1 | Max: 12

BULGARIA IN PICTURES

Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?

MOST VIEWED

Bulgaria will not bail out eurozone countries with debt, Lilyana Pavlova says

Bulgaria will not have to bail out eurozone countries that are experiencing difficulties. This is what Lilyana Pavlova, former vice..

published on 11/24/25 11:43 AM

Sofia forum highlights expanding Bulgaria–China research cooperation

Bulgarian and Chinese researchers discussed scientific cooperation at a forum in Sofia on Friday, attended by representatives of the Bulgarian Academy of..

published on 11/24/25 4:20 PM

Bulgaria lacks unified refugee policy, Vice President Iotova says

Bulgaria lacks a coherent national policy on refugees despite continued migrant flows , Vice President Iliana Iotova said on Wednesday, calling for a lead..

published on 11/24/25 4:49 PM

shopify analytics ecommerce
tracking