On Tuesday in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, hundreds of masked rioters clashed with police and set fire to homes and vehicles, marking a second night of unrest following a protest over an alleged sexual assault. Seventeen police officers sustained injuries, increasing the total to 32 since violence erupted Monday after a protest regarding the case involving two 14-year-old boys accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl. The boys, who denied the charges through a Romanian interpreter, have been remanded until July 2.
The police are conducting investigations into several properties damaged in what are being classified as racially-motivated “hate crimes.” Tensions escalated with anti-immigration demonstrations, prompting local authorities to respond with condemnation. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher of the Police Service of Northern Ireland described the violence as “deeply concerning and utterly unacceptable,” emphasizing the destructive impact of such actions on the community.
In response to the escalating violence, five individuals were arrested on suspicion of riotous behavior. Riot police, equipped with armored vehicles, faced projectiles, petrol bombs, and other dangerous materials as they attempted to manage the unrest. Witnesses reported multiple cars set ablaze and significant property damage, with one house completely destroyed by fire.
Additionally, disturbances spread to other areas, including Belfast, where separate protests resulted in further clashes with police. The British government and local leaders have firmly denounced the violence, reiterating that such civil disorder has no place in Northern Ireland. The call for calm and community solidarity remains urgent as authorities seek to restore order amidst rising tensions.
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