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Northern Irish rioters attack police for second night

By AAP Newswire

Jun 11, 2025

Police use a water cannon near Clonavon Terrace, Ballymena — Violence erupted after a peaceful march to support a sexual assault victim. -AP

Rioters threw petrol bombs and other missiles at police in the Northern Irish town of Ballymena in the second successive night of disorder that followed a protest over an alleged sexual assault in the town.

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Police on Tuesday said they were dealing with "serious disorder" in a part of the town, which is about 45km from the capital Belfast, and urged people to avoid the area.

Police used water cannons and plastic baton rounds in an attempt to disperse a crowd of several hundred people in the town.

Separate protests also blocked off some roads in Belfast, a Reuters witness said.

The violence erupted on Monday after a peaceful march to show support for the family of the victim of a sexual assault on the weekend. Two 14-year-old boys have been charged.

The suspects have not been identified because of their age. They were supported in court by a Romanian interpreter.

Fifteen police officers were injured, with some requiring hospital treatment, after they came under sustained attack for a number of hours on Monday when masked people broke from the protest to build barricades and attack properties.

Four houses were damaged by fire and windows and doors were smashed in other homes and businesses, in what police said they are investigating as racially-motivated hate attacks.

with AP

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press