In Northern Ireland, violent clashes between police and demonstrators after an alleged rape attempt

Six people were arrested and 17 police officers were injured in Northern Ireland on a second night of anti-immigrant violence, launched after the indictment of two teenagers for the attempted rape of a young girl.

Individuals again faced the police and attacked homes and businesses, mainly in the city of Ballymena, police said on Wednesday, June 11. The police, who evoke violence “Motivated by racial considerations”does not wish to communicate on the origin of the two 14 -year -olds charged for an attempted rape in Blymena. According to the British media, they expressed themselves through a Romanian interpreter during their appearance on Monday in court.

“The insane violence observed these last two nights in Ballymena is deeply worrying and totally unacceptable”said Commissioner Jon Boutcher on Wednesday in a statement. “During a second night of riots and troubles, mainly in the Clonavon Terrace district, in Ballymena, the police were the target of attacks supported for several hours, with multiple Molotov cocktails, bricks and fireworks”reports the police.

Incidents in several cities

The violence has notably targeted areas where Romanian immigrants live, in this city of 31,000 inhabitants located about fifty kilometers northwest of Belfast. Five people were arrested for public order disorders and placed in police custody.

Incidents have also been reported in Belfast as well as in two nearby cities, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey, where a man was arrested. In Ballymena, shops and homes were targeted on Tuesday by hundreds of demonstrators, and vehicles were burned. The police used water cannons to disperse the rioters.

The first violence broke out on Monday evening after a rally in support of the young victim of the alleged rape attempt and his family. “To those who have been threatened or affected by these violence, I say: we are with you (…) Haine acts and popular repression only tear the social fabric: they do not solve anything and do not serve anyone ”said Commissioner Jon Boutcher. “These criminal acts not only put lives in danger, but are also likely to compromise the current criminal procedure”he said.

Northern Ireland was shaken last summer, like other places in the United Kingdom, by anti-immigration riots following the murders of three little girls during a knife attack in northwestern England.

“Ballymena has a large immigrant population, many people work in the city and provide excellent work”said the mayor, Jackson Minford, at the France-Presse agency on Tuesday evening. Downing Street judged “Very worrying” Incidents, expressing support to victims of violence and injured police.