Riots erupted in a Northern Irish town, with protesters flinging glass bottles and paint cans at riot police. An anti-immigration protest began in the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena after a girl was seriously sxually assaulted over the weekend. The situation has escalated, with protesters setting fire to plastic road barriers and bins and smashing windows of nearby houses.
In a statement last night, June 9, Northern Irish police (PSNI) said: "A number of missiles have been thrown towards police with damage reported to a number of properties. "Officers are advising motorists and pedestrians to avoid the Clonavon Road area until further notice. "It follows a protest in the area earlier this evening. Officers are in attendance to ensure the safety of everyone involved. They will remain in the area tonight to continue to monitor the situation." The rioting began after two 14-year-old boys appeared in court charged with attempted oral r@pe. It reportedly took place in the Clonavon Terrace area on Saturday evening, June 7. The boys appeared at Coleraine magistrates court on Monday, June 9, via videolink from a juvenile justice centre, where they both pleaded not guilty. A Romanian interpreter was in court to read the charges to both defendants. They were remanded in custody until their next appearance at the youth court at Ballymena magistrates court on July 2. Around 2,500 people gathered in a local park before moving towards Clonavon Terrace. The group of men, women and children marched along Larne Street and Queen Street, initially gathering in support of the victims family. But the situation descended into chaos as fires were lit, a boat was overturned and homes vandalised.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were seen forcing their way inside homes, in case residents were trapped inside. Chief Superintendent Sue Steen said: "We are urging everyone to remain calm and to act responsibly. Violence and disorder will only place people at greater risk. "Our priority is to keep the community safe, and I would appeal to everyone to work with us to bring calm to the area as quickly as possible." Local MP Jim Allister said tensions had been growing over immigration in the area for some time, which erupted into violence following a peaceful protest earlier in the afternoon. TUV leader Mr Allister said: "Within Ballymena there has been rising concerns about the sheer scale of migration into the town and that would have been a factor in the wholly peaceful protest. "All that to be distinguished from the wanton violence which then followed, with obviously a minority of that peaceful crowd wanting to take advantage of that to visit violence which wasnt wanted or warranted, hence the scenes that we saw. "It is very distressing to see scenes of violence on the streets of Ballymena. "It is easier to start than to stop these things. There has been a bit of authorities not wanting to face up to the racial background of some of this over the years. "That unchecked migration which is beyond what the town can cope with, is a source of past and future tensions; that is the reality of it. "Those who came onto the street last night in the main had a perfectly legitimate purpose and cause of being there." Mr Allister said he had spoken to the girls family, and they said they did not want to see violence. He added: "Sadly the narrative has been diverted, and it has been diverted by those who wrongly and foolishly involved in violence and made the story something that what it otherwise should be. My message is the violence should stop. The concerns are there, I am certainly aware of them, I hear them and there needs now to be a period of calm and justice needs to take its course.
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