Homes and cars have been set on fire during one Second night of violence in balllymena As the police condemned unrest as “racist thugs”.
Dramatic scenes came out overnight in the city of Northern Ireland as the rioters hurt police officers to petrol bombs, fireworks and glass bottles.
The riot police were stationed around the Clonwon Terrace area on Tuesday night, as hundreds of people gathered in the co -entream town. Psni Vehicles formed barricades on some roads, while the riots police wearing armor and took the slope.
The police fired at least on some of them and also used a water cannon to disperse the crowd.
The disorder began on Monday after a peaceful protest in support of a girl’s family, which was an alleged sexual attack in the region.
Violence scenes, which injured 15 police on Monday, were described as “racist thugs” by a senior officer.
Ryan Henderson, assistant chief constable of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Police Service, said there was an important operation of force in the coming days, when there was a repetition of disturbances on Monday night in the co -entam town.
He said: “We are actively working to identify and judge those responsible for the racially induced disorder of the last night in Ballimena.
“Whoever has information or who can help identify those responsible people, are asked to contact the police on 101.”
A 29 -year -old man has been accused of rioter behavior after being arrested during a disorder in Ballimena on Monday night.
The person appearing before the Ballimana Magistrate Court on Thursday 3 July has also been accused of disorganized behavior, attempting criminal damage and opposing the police.
Mr. Henderson said that other arrests are expected after the video footage examination.
The official spokesperson of the Prime Minister described the incidents that saw police and ethnic minorities targeted as “very related”.
In Clonwon Terrace, their windows were broken in many houses and two that were facing significant smoke damage were closed on Tuesday.
Violence erupted after a peaceful protest in support of the family of an alleged sexual attack victim in the city in the weekend.
Two 14 -year -old boys appeared in court on Monday, attempted rape. The allegations were read by the teenagers by a Romanian interpreter.
On Tuesday, PSNI stated that it had made a third arrest in connection with the incident and a public appeal for information.
Detective Inspector Olfurt of PSNI’s Public Protection Branch said: “A 28 -year -old man was arrested last evening, Monday evening.
“He has been released unconditionally from police custody after questioning.”
After the protests later violent, the police were attacked with petrol bombs and masonry.
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the attacks should “be strongly condemned by all the right -minded people”.
At a press conference at Ballimena police station, he said, “Any attempt to justify or explain it is something else.”
He said that members of the minority ethnic community felt “fear” and there would be an important policing operation in the city in the coming days to assure the community.
“I would firmly urge anyone who was involved in yesterday’s disorder, to reflect long and hard about his actions, their consequences will be,” he said.
Mr. Henderson said that police officers from England and Wales will be brought to Northern Ireland if needed to help PSNI in view of Ballimana disorder.
He said: “I need any additionalness, I have been fully assured that my colleagues in England and Wales, National Police Operation Center, stand fast and are ready for support. We need that support.”
The senior official said that the police did not have specific intelligence that violent scenes would be repeated, but said that there would be an important policing operation.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Around 7.30 am, a planned vigilance gathered in the Galgorm Road area, on Larne Street, Wakehrt Road and then on Queen Street.
“Vigilance was initially peaceful as it made its way towards the Clonwon Terrace region of Ballimena.
“Due to the large number of people gathered in the region, the authorities were present in vigilance to ensure a reasonable and proportional policing response.
“Many masked individuals again separated from vigilance and began to manufacture barricades, stockpiling missiles and attacking properties in the Clonwon terrace region.
“The elements of the crowd again turned to the police and attacked the authorities with petrol bombs and masonry.
“This disorder was constant and continued in the surrounding area of Galgorm Street, Linenhall Street and Larne Road Link in the surrounding area of Brad.”
The statement said: “Police officers came under continuous attacks with several petrol bombs, fireworks, heavy masonry and bricks for several hours, thrown in their direction by masked rioters.
“Fifteen officers were injured with the treatment of some necessary hospitals.
“Two police vehicles were also damaged during the disorder.
“Many houses and businesses with windows and doors were damaged. Three people were evacuated.
“Attacks on these properties are being investigated in the form of attacks of racially motivated hatred.
“The windows were also demolished for several commercial units in Galgorm Parks in the early hours.
“Overall, the six properties in clonwon terrace cause damage to windows and doors during disorders.
“During a severe disorder, authorized police officers discharged an Estanuting Energy Project (AEP) with a riot.”
As part of the ongoing inquiry, the police is also investigating a arson report in the Tobbar Park area of Kulibaki in the early hours of Tuesday.
Shortly after 12.20, it was reported that a petrol bomb was thrown on a vehicle in the area that installed it.
A woman and two children suffered damage to the nearby property.
Downing Street said that there could be no justification for violence in Ballimena.
The official spokesperson of the Prime Minister said: “The disorder we saw in Ballimena is very related.
“Obviously, sexual harassment reports in the area are extremely disturbing, but there is no justification for attacks on police officers, while they continue to protect local communities.
“PSNI and justice system should be allowed to do their jobs and our views are with the victims of the attack as well as police officers who were injured.”
