Urgent Breaking News: Violent Riots Erupt in Ballymena, Northern Ireland
Violent troubles have broken out in recent days in the city of Ballymena, Northern Ireland, following the announcement of the indictment of two teenagers for an alleged sexual assault on a young girl. The situation quickly degenerated into racial riots and violent clashes between demonstrators and the police, resulting in a total of 32 injured police officers over two nights of violence.
How It All Started
Everything began on Monday, June 9 in the evening, when a vigil was organized in response to an attempted rape involving two 14-year-old boys of Romanian nationality. This element seems to have been instrumentalized by certain demonstrators to stir up xenophobic tensions.
Clashes Intensify
During the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, the clashes intensified. According to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Molotov cocktails, fireworks, and projectiles were launched against the police. Seventeen police officers were injured, some requiring hospitalization. Five people were arrested for rioting behaviors. The police had to use rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse the crowd.
PSNI’s Response
The head of the PSNI, Jon Boutcher, denounced acts of “insane violence” which jeopardize not only human lives but also the current judicial investigation. “These acts of violence undermine efforts to do justice to the victim,” he said, calling for the immediate end of the troubles.
Political Reactions
The leaders of the North Irish executive, from all political parties, have published a joint declaration in which they firmly condemn these racist acts of violence and call for calm. “Those who stir up racial tensions have no interest in justice,” they say, recalling that peaceful demonstrations are a right, but that violence can never be justified.
Tensions in Other Cities
Smaller demonstrations have also been reported in other cities in the region, especially in Lisburn, Coleraine, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus, and Belfast. Police do not exclude calling on reinforcements from England and Wales if the situation were to get worse. The British government has also reacted: a Downing Street spokesperson sentenced the troubles and called for restraint. Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, described these scenes as “terrible” and recalled that they had “no place in Northern Ireland.”
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