COPS have slammed riots in Northern Ireland as “racist thuggery” after 15 police officers were injured and locals left terrified.
Violence erupted following a court appearance over the sexual assault of a teenage girl.
Fires raged in the streets on Monday after barricades were put up by hordes of hooligans in County Antrim.
Shocking footage showed homes torched in the town of Ballymena – while petrol bombs were lobbed at police as crowds cheered.
Police described the riots as “racially-motivated hate attacks”, with a senior officer slamming the scenes as “racist thuggery”.
The carnage erupted hours after two 14-year-old boys appeared in court charged with attempted rape on Monday.
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The boys confirmed their names – which cannot be reported – and their ages through a Romanian interpreter at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court.
Some locals said they plan on leaving the area following the horror scenes that saw the windows of homes and businesses smashed in.
A woman from Romania, who said she was too afraid to give her name, said she tried to flee her house after the front window was broken.
She said: “The children were asking me why are we being attacked. I don’t want to stay here now, the children are afraid and I am afraid.”
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A Romanian man said he had lived in the area for 15 years.
He said: “I am lucky because the damage here is not too bad, but my sister has three kids, I have a little girl.
“We are going to live in a friend’s house for a while and then try to move out of here.
“I understand if people want to protest but it did not have to be like this. We should not have to pay the price.”
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said officers will remain on alert over the next few days.
This is in case there is any repeat of the disturbances on Monday night in the Co Antrim town.
A 29-year-old man was arrested on Monday and has been charged with riotous behaviour, disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police.
He is due in Ballymena Magistrates’ Court on July 3.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman described the events which saw police and ethnic minorities targeted as “very concerning”.
At Clonavon Terrace, several houses had their windows smashed and two which suffered significant smoke damage remained sealed off on Tuesday.
Why the two 14-year-old boys charged with attempted rape can’t be named
The two teenagers charged with attempted rape appeared at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
The defendants cannot be named due to their ages.
Article 22(2) of the 1998 Order restricts press and media reporting of proceedings in youth courts.
It states that, where a child is concerned in any criminal proceedings in a youth court or on appeal from a youth court, no report revealing the name, address or school of any child, including anything likely to lead to the identification of the child, shall be published.
Press and media are also restricted from publishing a picture of any child concerned, except where the court or the Department of Justice, if satisfied that it is in the interests of justice to do so, makes an order dispensing with these prohibitions.
Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the attacks should be “loudly condemned by all right thinking people”.
“Any attempt to justify or explain it as something else is misplaced,” he said at a press conference at Ballymena police station.
He said that members of the minority ethnic community “felt fear” and there will be a significant policing operation in the town in the coming days to reassure the community.
He said one arrest has been made and more will follow, as video and online footage is examined.
“I would strongly urge anyone who was involved in yesterday’s disorder to reflect long and hard about their actions, they will have consequences,” he said.
Mr Henderson said that police officers from England and Wales will be brought to Northern Ireland if needed to help the PSNI in the wake of the Ballymena disorder.
The senior officer said police did not have specific intelligence that there would be a repeat of the violent scenes, but said a significant policing operation would be in place.
Local MP Jim Allister said the tensions which erupted into the violent scenes had been building for some time.
The North Antrim representative explained pressure had been growing over immigration, adding that the violence followed a peaceful protest.
The large group of protesters had gathered close to where the alleged sexual assault had taken place, with people initially coming to together to support the family of the girl.
However, demonstrations then turned violent following the court appearance, with locals burning plastic road barriers and bins as part of a barricade on the street.
Horrific violent scenes saw masked yobs throw missiles including cans of paint and glass bottles at PSNI vehicles.
A number of houses were also attacked by the masked youths who could be seen kicking in doors and throwing missiles at windows.
It’s understood that at least two houses were set alight, with flames from these homes spreading to other properties.
A line of police vehicles advanced towards the protesters followed by armoured officers on foot and a drone overhead.
Firefighters later responded to the burning debris on the road and inspected a nearby house which had filled with smoke.
Other footage appeared to show some protesters targeting houses by smashing windows.
The barricade built and then burnt in the middle of the street by the rioters has since been extinguished by fire crews.
Police had blocked off the street with Land Rovers, which were later targeted with paint and masonry by protesters.
One patrol car also appeared to have a broken window after an object was hurled at it.
Amidst the carnage, a boat could also be seen overturned in the street.
Justice Minister Naomi Long said there can be “no justification” for such “appalling” scenes.
‘WE ARE URGING EVERYONE TO REMAIN CALM’
In a statement, the PSNI said: “At around 7.30pm, a planned vigil gathered in the Galgorm Road area before making its way towards Larne Street, onto Wakehurt Road and then down Queen Street.
“The vigil was initially peaceful as it made its way towards the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena.
“A number of masked individuals then broke away from the vigil and began to build barricades, stockpiling missiles and attacking properties in the Clonavon Terrace area.
“Elements of the crowd then turned on to police and attacked officers with petrol bombs and masonry.”
The statement added: “Police officers came under sustained attack over a number of hours with multiple petrol bombs, fireworks, heavy masonry and bricks thrown in their direction by masked rioters.
“Fifteen officers were injured with some requiring hospital treatment.
“A number of homes and businesses were damaged with windows and doors smashed. Four houses were damaged by fire with three people evacuated.
“The attacks on these properties are being investigated as racially motivated hate attacks.
“Windows were also smashed of several business units in Galgorm Parks in the early hours.
“In total, six properties in Clonavon Terrace have sustained damage to windows and doors during the disorder.
“During the course of the serious disorder, authorised police officers discharged one Attenuating Energy Projectile (AEP) with one rioter struck.”
The riots came hours after the two 14-year-old boys appeared in Coleraine Magistrates’ Court charged with the attempted rape of a teenage girl, the Belfast Telegraph reported.
Scenes in Ballymena echoed the violent disorder which broke out last summer, following the Southport killings.
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Following the Ballymena violence, the PSNI has asked anyone with information to contact them on 101 or make a report online here.
Alternatively, information can be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.