Riots in Northern Ireland explained as violent disorder continues for second night
Here is a rundown of the events which led up to riots in Northern Ireland after a vigil for a girl who was allegedly sexually assaulted turned violent.
There has been serious disorder in the town of Ballymena after two teenage boys were arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a girl in the County Antrim town, which is around 30 minutes away from the capital city of Belfast.
What is happening in Ballymena, Northern Ireland?
On Sunday (8 June), two 14-year-old boys were arrested and charged with attempted oral rape on a teenage girl– both boys deny the charges against them (via the BBC).
The alleged assault is understood to have taken place the previous evening.
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Both boys appeared before a court to confirm their names and ages through a Romanian interpreter the following Monday morning and pleaded not guilty.
They will remain in custody until their next court date on 2 July.
Peaceful protest held for alleged victim turns violent
On Monday evening (9 June), a peaceful protest and vigil were arranged for the unnamed teenage girl, with The i Paper reporting that 2,500 people, including men, women, and children, marched through the town.
However, the demonstration turned violent after a group broke away from the main protest and began attacking homes in Clonavon Terrace. Residents have been urged to avoid the area.
Footage shared on social media from the unrest showed rioters burning bins and plastic road barriers to form barricades on the streets while others launched paint and bottles at police vehicles.
Other footage also showed the individuals smashing the windows of homes on the street.
Violence continued for a second night on Tuesday (10 June), with protestors attacking police with petrol bombs and fireworks. PSNI officers responded by using water cannons and dog units in an attempt to quell the violence. Around 15 PSNI officers have been injured in the unrest.
Meanwhile, a 29-year-old man was arrested and charged with riotous behaviour in connection to the violence (as per The Guardian).
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has condemned the violence and attacks on police officers in a statement on social media, writing: "The terrible scenes of civil disorder we have witnessed in Ballymena again this evening have no place in Northern Ireland.
"There is absolutely no justification for attacks on PSNI officers or for vandalism directed at people's homes or property."
Riots linked to increasing immigration
According to a spokesperson for the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) political party, the initial protest was motivated by 'unfettered immigration' and 'significant demographic change in the area' (via the BBC).
Senior police officers have since condemned the riots as 'racist thuggery', suggesting that locals had taken advantage of the incident to attack immigrant communities in the area.
Sky News added that several houses in the area have even taken to draping their houses in Union Jack flags and signs which read 'British household' in hopes that rioters won't vandalise their homes.
Police said the attacks on people's homes were being treated as racially-motivated hate crimes, The i Paper reports.
What has the response been to the Ballymena attacks?
PSNI Chief Constable Ryan Henderson condemned the violence in a statement, saying: "This violence was clearly racially motivated and targeted at our minority ethnic community and police.
"I want to condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms. It has no place in our society and should be loudly condemned by all right-thinking people."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed concern over the violence, saying there is 'no justification' for the disorder.
The family of the alleged victim have also spoken out against the violence in a statement issued via Belfast Telegraph, which reads: "As a family, we would like to let people know that we were no way involved or condone any trouble that happened after tonight's peaceful protest.
"We would again like to thank the people who came from far and wide to support us and ask that justice be served in the correct manner."
Brenna Cooper