Ballymena, a town in Northern Ireland, witnessed racially motivated riots after the arrest of two teenage boys for attempted rape. Protests escalated into violence, with hundreds of masked individuals disrupting the streets, throwing projectiles, and attacking properties following a vigil for the alleged victim. Police reported serious injuries among their ranks and the targeted harassment of the minority ethnic community. Authorities emphasized the racist nature of these attacks, acknowledging the tensions bubbling in the town due to a significant migrant population as fear spreads among residents.
The unrest first erupted on Monday night after a vigil in a neighbourhood where an alleged sexual assault had happened on Saturday.
This violence was clearly racially motivated and targeted at our minority ethnic community and police, Ryan Henderson, assistant chief constable, said on Tuesday.
Tensions in the town, which has a large migrant population, remained high throughout the day on Tuesday, as residents described the scenes as terrifying.
Last night, unfortunately, has probably scared a lot of people. We are actively working to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.
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