Two Romanian teenagers were accused of sexual assault on local girls this week, and were caught up in anti-immigrant violence during protests in the northern Ireland town of Ballymena.
On three nights, masked thugs burned down houses and vehicles, Ryan Henderson Called “Racist, pure and simple,” resulted in multiple arrests and dozens of injuries.
The violence was in the wake of two 14-year-old boys arrested on the attempt to arrest a teenage girl. Both were sued Appear in court On Monday, they spoke through Romanian interpreters. (police Announced the third arrest Related to Tuesday's case. )
The incident sparked a chaotic anti-immigration sentiment in Ballymena, with nearly 5,000 of 31,000 residents born outside of the UK, Ireland or Northern Ireland According to census data.
Overall population, racial or racialized groups in Northern Ireland cosmetic Compared to 16% of Ballymena, 3.4% of the total population of Northern Ireland.
More than 30 officers were injured after being attacked by fire bombs and bricks over three nights, and so far more than a dozen people have been arrested in and around Ballymena.
The riots had a significant impact on immigration to the town.
“I have to save my child,” said a Bulgarian woman, who has lived in Ballymena for nearly 10 years. But the family plans to leave after her family home became the target of the rioters.
How it unfolds
Hundreds of tweets, videos and images were aired on social media to classify the days of riots. The CBC's visual investigation team has collected and verified the footage to show how the town is trapped in violence.
exist SundayOn the second day of the alleged rape, a Facebook post was released in the local community, telling people to gather at a local place at 7:30 PM on Monday to “show their anger.”
Begin the peaceful vigil on Monday In the evening, in support of the so-called victim, Ballymena Deputy Mayor Tyler Hoey expressed support for the protesters. However, the activity was quickly decentralized, with hundreds of people pouring in the streets, reportedly targeting homes and businesses related to foreigners.
Before sunset (which will be some time before 10 pm), a barricade sets fire near the church with police nearby.
🇬🇧🚨After teen sexual assault, serious anti-immigration riots spread in Northern Ireland!
Reports about the burning and eviction of houses following sexual assault. pic.twitter.com/gyavjoatij
Shortly after, masked people can be seen smashing house windows near the church, which can be seen in the first tweet below, reflecting inflammatory rhetoric, which intensifies the riot.
It all happened within a few blocks of the town.
The riot continued for the second night Tuesday. The conflict between protesters and police began at night with water cannons, Small combustion roadblock Destroyed by a police car.
A car caught fire Near the parking lot Where the protests first began, another person overturned and burned.
Later, several houses caught fire. In one video, people seem to be trying to break the doors of nearby houses, while people with black masks grind the house.
exist WednesdayUnion Jack can be seen on the windows of several houses, while a handwritten sign on a boarding window reads “British Family”, presumably to avoid predators. The riot continued at night.
A video released that day showed a man firing in a police car that appeared to be fireworks. The police then used water cannons on the thugs.
Police were attacked by fireworks in Ballymena after a second violence in Ballymena.
Several cars and properties were throwing gasoline bombs, fireworks and masonry at police officers when Ballymena caught fire. pic.twitter.com/fy8mubkisb
A man caught fire in a video posted on Wednesday; from what it is, it is not clear yet.
It is not clear whether violence will spread. On Wednesday night, masked thugs Shooting to nearby Rahn's leisure center It was the family that received the family from the riots in Balimena.
Northern Ireland incident responds to violence Anti-immigration riots in 2024 That was spread all over the UK, resulting in hundreds of arrests. The riots began in Southport, England, after the fatal stabbing of three deadly girls who were wrongly claimed to have been carried out by Muslim asylum seekers, who were in fact the perpetrators were the perpetrators Born in Wales.
“While all our citizens have the right to protest peacefully, there will never be any reason for the violence that has occurred in recent days,” said the minister, representing every political party in Northern Ireland. In a joint statement, it said Wednesday.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the attack on police “unconsciously” in his comments to parliament.
