Anti-Immigrant Rioting Stretches Into Second Night in Northern Ireland

A second night of riots struck the city of Ballymena in Northern Ireland on Tuesday, while anti-immigrant demonstrations spread in several other regions and the police warned against “acts fueled by hatred”.

Houses, companies and vehicles were again attacked in the Clonavon Terrace district of Blymena, where several properties were burned on Monday evening following a demonstration on the alleged sexual assault of a teenager.

The police underwent a “sustained attack” with petrol bombs, bricks and fireworks on Tuesday evening, according to A statement from the Northern Ireland police and 17 police officers were injured.

The police used a water cannon against crowds and pulled plastic relay bullets in Ballymena, while the disorder also took place in parts of Belfast and in the city of Carrickfergus.

Earlier in the evening, demonstrations had taken place in regions of Belfast, as well as Lisburn, Coleraine and Newtownabbey.

They followed the appearance in court on Monday of two 14 -year -old boys who had been accused of the serious sexual assault of a teenage girl on Saturday evening.

The two boys were accused of attempted oral rape and denying the accusations, the BBC reportedAdding that they had confirmed their names and ages through a Romanian interpreter.

Wednesday morning, signs and flags appeared in some houses in the Ballymena district where the assault and riots took place by declaring the nationality of those inside.

“British Home,” read a handwritten sign above a broken window, while another house showed an image of the Filippines flag with the words: “Philippin lives here.”

The conductor in chief Jon Boutcher, who heads the Northern Ireland police service, said: “The insane violence has witnessed in the last two nights in Ballymena is deeply worrying and completely unacceptable. These criminal acts do not only put lives, but also risk undermining the process of criminal justice in progress in support of a victim who deserves truth, justice and protection. “

He said the police were examining video sequences and other evidence to identify the rioters and condemned what he called “the acts of hatred and the crowd rule”.

Five people were arrested for suspicion of riots in Ballymena on Tuesday evening, while another suspect was arrested for disorder in Newtownabbey, north of Belfast.

It is a story in development. Please check the updates.