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

Bulgaria expresses support for Lithuania following Russian incursion

"Bulgaria expresses strong solidarity with Lithuania following Russia's repeated violations of European airspace, a clear example of deliberate breaches of international law and the territorial integrity of our allies and partners," the Bulgarian..

published on 10/24/25 5:32 PM

Sofia University

Over 63% of Ukrainian students in Bulgaria are ethnic Bulgarians

In the 2024/2025 academic year, 2,104 students from Ukraine were studying at Bulgarian universities , according to the Ministry of Education. Of these, 1,750 were pursuing bachelor’s degrees, 304 were in master’s programmes, and 50 were enrolled in..

published on 10/24/25 5:22 PM

Dan Jørgensen

EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen to visit Bulgaria

European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen will visit Bulgaria on 28 October, just days after US President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Russian oil giants Lukoil and Rosneft over Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine, BNR correspondent..

published on 10/24/25 5:08 PM

1
2
3
4
5
6
..
10

WEATHER

Pick city: Sofía

Rain
Min: 8 | Max: 14

BULGARIA IN PICTURES

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

MOST VIEWED

International conference on Bulgarians in the Northern Black Sea Region brings together scientists from Bulgaria, Ukraine and Moldova

The international scientific conference “Bulgarians in the Northern Black Sea Region” will be held in Sofia on October 27 and 28, 2025 in the Institute..

published on 10/25/25 5:00 AM

shopify analytics ecommerce
tracking