Chaos is unfolding for a second consecutive night in Northern Ireland as crowds gather to protest following the court appearance of two teenage boys for an alleged attempted rape.
Trouble first erupted yesterday evening as a demonstration by around 2,500 people in the Harryville area of Ballymena spiralled out of control.
The protest was arranged after the two 14-year-olds were charged with the attempted oral rape of a teenage girl in the town on June 7.
Both defendants required a Romanian interpreter in court, with police branding the riots ‘racist thuggery’.
A third arrest was made in relation to the sexual assault last night as a 28-year-old man was taken in for questioning and then released.
The unrest has once again spilled onto the streets today, with witnesses reporting groups hurling a variety of objects including bottles, wood, rocks, metal bars, wheelie bins, and even a child’s bike.
A wall of riot police and armoured Land Rovers were seen trying to protect homes and forcing the crowd up the road.
Police reportedly used a loudspeaker to make a repeat warning to ‘disperse as force is about to be used against violent individuals’.
Riot police vans at Clonavon Terrace, Ballymena, as people take part in a protest over an alleged sexual assault in the Co Antrim town
A huge fire erupts in the middle of the street surrounded by protesters in Northern Ireland tonight
Police vehicles are seen on fire at tonight’s out of control protest in Northern Ireland
Chaos breaks out again in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, tonight for a second evening in a row
A water cannon has also been deployed by PSNI on the crowds in Ballymena, as a huge blaze and plumes of smoke came from the end of a row of terraced houses
A wall of riot police and armoured Land Rovers try to protect homes and force the crowd up the road
Fireworks were fired at police lines, an action which received a large cheer from the crowd of protesters.
Police dogs attended the scene tonight to assist officers and attempt to control the chaos.
A water cannon was also deployed by PSNI on the crowds in Ballymena, as a huge blaze and plumes of smoke came from the end of a row of terraced houses.
Litter and debris can be seen strewn across the roads and pavements while smashed glass covers the town’s streets, footage shows.
A police statement issued tonight said: ‘Police are currently dealing with serious disorder in the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena this evening, Tuesday 10th June.
‘Members of the public should avoid the area. An update will be provided in due course.’
A Romanian mother who lives in one of the houses attacked during the violence said she has been left too scared to stay in the area.
The mother-of-three said her children were asking why their house was being attacked during disturbances in the town last night.
Police have appealed for calm after serious disorder broke out again this evening
Fireworks are set off near emergency vehicles during tonight’s protest in Northern Ireland
Armed police officers attend the scene in a bid to control day two of the riots in Ballymena
Litter and debris can be seen strewn across the roads and pavements while smashed glass covers the town’s streets
Troubles flair during the demonstration in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, tonight
A water cannon has been deployed by PSNI on the crowds in Ballymena this evening
Several properties were damaged on Clonavon Terrace, while a number of residents said today that they now intend to leave the area.
The woman from Romania, who said she was too afraid to give her name, claimed she tried to flee her house after the front window was broken.
‘The children were asking me why are we being attacked,’ she said.
‘I don’t want to stay here now, the children are afraid and I am afraid.’
A Romanian man said he had lived in the area for 15 years.
He said: ‘We don’t even know why this happened to us.
‘The riots started last night. We didn’t expect it to come to our house.
‘We tried to get out of the house and go to a safe place.
‘I have lived here 15 years. Everything else has been nice, everything has been OK.
Huge flames and clouds of smoke come from the end of a row of houses during tonight’s riots
Police vans at Clonavon Terrace as people take part in a protest again this evening
Disorder has exploded onto the streets again tonight in Northern Ireland
Fireworks were allegedly fired at police lines, an action which received a large cheer from the crowd of protesters
A water cannon has also been deployed by PSNI on the crowds in Ballymena, as a huge blaze and plumes of smoke came from the end of a row of terraced houses
‘I have so many friends in Ballymena, I have got so much support.
‘Everyone was texting and asking us if we are OK, if we are safe, if they can do anything for us.’
He added: ‘I am lucky because the damage here is not too bad, but my sister has three kids, I have a little girl.
‘We are going to live in a friend’s house for a while and then try to move out of here.’
He said: ‘I like to believe I am a Ballymena man now, I have been living here half of my life.
‘I understand if people want to protest but it did not have to be like this.
‘We should not have to pay the price.’
