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Ballymena: Homes damaged in disorder after alleged sex assault | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Watch: Disorder breaks out in Ballymena on Monday night | |
Police have appealed for calm as disorder broke out in Ballymena in Northern Ireland, after a protest over an alleged sexual assault in the town. | |
Masked youths could be seen throwing masonry and a number of properties were damaged with windows smashed. | |
At least two houses were set on fire, according to the Belfast Telegraph. | |
Officers blocked off Clonavon Terrace as they tried to tackle the unrest while a police car appeared to have its windows smashed. | |
In a statement, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said a "number of missiles have been thrown towards police with damage reported to a number of properties". | In a statement, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said a "number of missiles have been thrown towards police with damage reported to a number of properties". |
Officers are advising motorists and pedestrians to avoid the Clonavon Road area until further notice. | Officers are advising motorists and pedestrians to avoid the Clonavon Road area until further notice. |
Ch Supt Sue Steen said: "We are urging everyone to remain calm and to act responsibly. Violence and disorder will only place people at greater risk". | Ch Supt Sue Steen said: "We are urging everyone to remain calm and to act responsibly. Violence and disorder will only place people at greater risk". |
Social media footage appeared to show a masked man throwing an object at police vans as a crowd looked on. | |
Black smoke filled the air as flames erupted close to a house that had its windows smashed. | |
The unrest follows a protest in the area, about 30 miles from Belfast, earlier in the evening. | |
Earlier, two teenage boys appeared before Coleraine Magistrates' Court accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in the County Antrim town. | Earlier, two teenage boys appeared before Coleraine Magistrates' Court accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in the County Antrim town. |
A protest of hundreds of people in Ballymena happened hours after the court appearance. | A protest of hundreds of people in Ballymena happened hours after the court appearance. |
The crowd of men, women and children gathered close to the town centre and marched peacefully along Larne Street and then Queen Street. | The crowd of men, women and children gathered close to the town centre and marched peacefully along Larne Street and then Queen Street. |