Riots have erupted for a third consecutive night in Northern Ireland, with authorities condemning the unrest as racially motivated violence sparked by an alleged sexual assault.
The town of Ballymena, a key flashpoint in recent days, saw dozens of masked youths clash with police late Wednesday. Although the scale of the violence was reduced compared to previous nights, authorities were forced to deploy riot control units and water cannons once again. Projectiles, fireworks, and petrol bombs were thrown at officers in riot gear, and roads were blocked by armored vehicles.
The violence first erupted on Monday following a peaceful vigil for a teenage girl who was allegedly sexually assaulted on Saturday. Two 14-year-old boys, reportedly of Romanian background, have since been charged in connection with the assault. Both denied the charges in court and required the services of a Romanian interpreter.
What began as a community gathering quickly devolved into targeted attacks. According to police, individuals in masks splintered from the crowd, erected barricades, and began stockpiling missiles and attacking homes.
Unrest has now spread beyond Ballymena. In Larne, 30km west of the town, masked youths smashed windows at a local leisure centre and set fires in the lobby. The leisure centre had been used to shelter families fleeing violence in Ballymena.
Gordon Lyons, Northern Ireland’s Communities Minister, confirmed the use of the centre to house refugees but faced backlash for revealing the location publicly.
Elsewhere, fires were lit at a roundabout in Newtownabbey, and debris was set ablaze at a barricade in Coleraine.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the violence, which has left at least 32 police officers injured over the past two nights.
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly issued a joint statement condemning the attacks.
“It’s pure racism—there’s no other way to dress it up,” said O’Neill.
“What we’re seeing in Ballymena is unacceptable thuggery,” added Little-Pengelly.
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Jon Boutcher warned that the ongoing rioting could jeopardize the legal proceedings surrounding the assault case.
Ballymena, a town of approximately 30,000 residents located 44km (28 miles) from Belfast, has a growing migrant population. Reports suggest that ethnic minorities have become the main targets of violence.
Two Filipino families were forced to flee their homes after their car was torched. According to local media, some residents have started marking their front doors with their nationality in hopes of avoiding attacks.
With input from Al Jazeera
