The Northern Irish town of Ballymena has descended into chaos after a second consecutive night of violent riots, leaving residents afraid for their safety and the safety of their property. The unrest began on Monday following public outrage over an alleged sexual assault involving two 14-year-old boys.
According to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the situation has escalated dramatically. So far, 32 police officers have been injured after facing a barrage of petrol bombs, bricks, fireworks, and scaffolding poles. Officers in full riot gear responded with water cannons and non-lethal projectiles as vehicles were torched and streets turned into battlegrounds.
The trouble erupted after the two boys were charged in connection with a serious sexual assault on a teenage girl. During their court appearance, the charges were read through a Romanian interpreter. The teens denied the allegations and were remanded in custody until July 2.
What began as a protest has turned into widespread civil unrest. Ryan Henderson, Assistant Chief Constable of the PSNI, stated, “People are waking up today feeling genuine fear for their lives and their livelihoods.” He added that social media had fueled further calls for protest across multiple towns in Northern Ireland.
By Tuesday evening, demonstrations and disorder had spread to Belfast, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus, and other towns. Bins were set on fire, bottles and stones were hurled at officers, and several roads were blocked off, plunging the region into turmoil.
Four homes targeted during the riots are now being investigated as racially motivated hate crimes. Victims from diverse backgrounds are living in fear, with some residents resorting to placing British flags on their windows in hopes of deterring attackers.
“For the second day, the mob’s violence has been focused on our diverse communities and law enforcement,” said Henderson. “When families from different backgrounds are having their doors kicked in, it must be called what it is—racist behavior.”
Police are concerned the violence could spread further and have requested additional reinforcements from mainland Britain. Despite the tension, no credible threats to wider public safety have been confirmed yet.
Local and national leaders have strongly condemned the attacks. Hilary Benn, Britain’s Northern Ireland Minister, said: “There is absolutely no justification for the disgraceful attacks we’ve seen—on police officers, on families, and on homes. This violence must stop immediately.”
As Northern Ireland grapples with this disturbing wave of violence, the hope remains that justice will prevail and calm will be restored before more lives are disrupted or lost.
