‘Mindless violence’: Riots in Northern Ireland over teens’ rape charges

The alleged sexual assault of a young girl by two teenagers has triggered nights of violence and “racist thuggery”, as leaders beg for calm.

Politicians and authorities across Northern Ireland have pleaded for calm after two nights of “disgraceful” and violent protests, triggered by the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl.

The unrest that injured 15 police officers on the first night and 17 on the second has included rioters throwing petrol bombs, fireworks and bricks at homes and businesses in the town of Ballymena.

The violence erupted after the arrest of two teenagers, who have been accused of attempting to rape a young girl over the weekend. The pair, both aged 14, appeared in court on Monday local time where they asked for a Romanian interpreter.

“We strongly condemn the racially-motivated violence witnessed in recent days and make an urgent appeal for calm across society,” ministers from every party in the province’s power-sharing executive said in a joint statement.

Residents had been “terrorised” and police injured, they added, before urging people to reject the “divisive agenda being pushed by a destructive minority”.

“There can never be any justification for the violence that has taken place in recent days,” the leaders said.

A vehicle is set alight during an anti-immigration demonstration in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. Picture: Paul Faith/AFP

Fireworks thrown at Riot Police illuminate the road during a third night of anti-immigration demonstrations in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. Picture: Paul Faith/AFP

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill, who is the republican Sinn Fein party’s vice president, called the riots “abhorrent”. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also condemned the “mindless” violence that had targeted foreigners.

“I utterly condemn the violence that we have seen overnight in Ballymena and in other parts of Northern Ireland,” the leader told parliament, adding it was “absolutely vital” that local police were able to investigate the alleged sexual assault “rather than face mindless attacks as they seek to bring peace and order to keep people safe”.

A protester stokes a barricade fire in Ballymena. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison

Police ‘prepared’ for more

Six people were arrested during the second night of protests in Ballymena, which is located around 48 kilometres northwest of Belfast, and other places.

Authorities would not confirm the ethnicity of the two teenagers accused of the rape, and they remain in custody. However, areas attacked in the past 48 hours included those where Romanian migrants live.

Four houses were damaged by fire, while rioters smashed windows and doors of homes and businesses.

“Police officers came under sustained attack over a number of hours with multiple petrol bombs, heavy masonry, bricks and fireworks (thrown) in their direction,” the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said in a statement. Some of the injured officers required hospital treatment.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson told a press conference this morning that his “nearly 30 years in policing makes me absolutely alert to the fact we could see more tonight, and that’s why we’re preparing and planned for that”.

Five people were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour, while a sixth was detained on suspicion of disorderly behaviour in Newtownabbey, one of four other places including Belfast where protests erupted.

A protester walks past a fire set in the streets during an anti-immigration demonstration in Ballymena. Picture: Paul Faith/AFP

A member of the crowd walks towards the PSNI riot squad officers as they form a blockade near Harryville bridge to stop potential rioters. Picture: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

‘Terrifying’

Tensions in Ballymena, which has a large migrant population, remained high on Tuesday local time.

Residents told AFP of “terrifying” scenes in which attackers targeted “foreigners”.

Assistant Chief Constable Henderson denounced the violence as “racist thuggery” and that was “clearly racially motivated and targeted at our minority ethnic community and police”.

The unrest comes as immigration is increasingly a hot-button issue across the United Kingdom and in the neighbouring Republic of Ireland.

Former Northern Ireland minister Lord Caine hit out at the protesters: “There is nothing remotely British about wrapping oneself in the Union flag, attacking migrants, forcing people from their homes and scapegoating entire communities anywhere in the United Kingdom.” Official figures do not indicate how many are longstanding residents or recent immigrants but the last census in 2021 put the number of Romanian-born people living in the province at 6,612.

Originally published as ‘Mindless violence’: Riots in Northern Ireland over teens’ rape charges