Violence Spreads in Ireland After Teen Arrests

(MENAFN) A third successive evening of turmoil has plunged Ballymena and nearby communities into chaos, as unrest intensifies with individuals attacking law enforcement, setting vehicles ablaze, and targeting immigrant populations.

The violence erupted after the detainment of two teenage boys from the area, in relation to a reported sexual assault earlier in the week.

The hostility has worsened each night, with police personnel facing relentless attacks involving petrol bombs, stones, and explosive fireworks.

Over 30 officers have been injured across Ballymena and adjacent towns.

Numerous vehicles have been incinerated, immigrant households have fled, and local shops have closed due to concerns over potential continued violence.

In Larne, the situation further deteriorated as hooded youths assaulted the Larne Leisure Centre during the third night of disorder.

The facility’s windows were shattered, and fires ignited inside. Prior false claims on social media had suggested that displaced migrants from Ballymena were being sheltered there, although no individuals were present in the center at the moment of the incident.

Migrant families, particularly those from the Philippines and Eastern Europe, have faced intimidation, property damage, and displacement.

Some have responded by barricading their residences or displaying national flags in an effort to discourage aggressors.

One Filipino family became trapped indoors after their vehicle was deliberately torched.

This wave of violence was sparked by public outrage after the arrest of two 14-year-old local boys linked to the alleged assault of a teenage girl on June 7 in Clonavon Terrace, Ballymena.

Although law enforcement confirmed the suspects are from the local area, false narratives circulating online have fueled racially motivated aggression.

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