Riots rock Ballymena for third night

Violence erupted in Ballymena, Northern Ireland as rioters attacked police and set fires in the streets for the third consecutive night. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) deployed water cannons to disperse crowds, but the clashes were less severe than the previous night, which resulted in 17 officers injured and five arrests. The unrest began on June 9 after two 14-year-old boys were charged with the attempted rape of a teenage girl, leading to heightened tensions and anti-immigrant sentiments, particularly against the Roma and Filipino communities.

Masked rioters have engaged in violent acts, throwing petrol bombs, fireworks, and rocks at police, while also vandalizing properties and setting vehicles ablaze. A leisure center in Larne, housing displaced foreign families, was specifically targeted, prompting authorities to classify the incidents as racially motivated hate crimes. Over the course of the unrest, 33 officers have been injured, and six individuals have been arrested.

Residents, especially those from immigrant backgrounds, have expressed fear for their safety, with some displaying Union Jack flags to avoid being targeted. A Filipino family reported barricading themselves in their attic as rioters rampaged through their neighborhood. Political leaders have condemned the violence, with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calling it "mindless" and Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly labeling it "unacceptable thuggery." Both the British and Irish governments have urged for calm and denounced the racially driven violence. The situation remains tense, with authorities closely monitoring developments and calling for communities to refrain from further unrest.