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| Ballymena: Seventeen police officers injured during second night of violence | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Watch: Police attacked on second night of disorder in Ballymena | Watch: Police attacked on second night of disorder in Ballymena |
| Protesters threw petrol bombs, bricks and fireworks at police during another night of disorder in Ballymena on Tuesday. | Protesters threw petrol bombs, bricks and fireworks at police during another night of disorder in Ballymena on Tuesday. |
| Five people were arrested and a further 17 officers were injured overnight, bringing the total to 32. | Five people were arrested and a further 17 officers were injured overnight, bringing the total to 32. |
| Officers fired baton rounds and used a water cannon to disperse protesters as cars were set on fire and the windows of several houses were smashed. | Officers fired baton rounds and used a water cannon to disperse protesters as cars were set on fire and the windows of several houses were smashed. |
| The disorder began on Monday after a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in the County Antrim town. | The disorder began on Monday after a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in the County Antrim town. |
| The first protest was organised hours after two teenage boys appeared before Coleraine Magistrates' Court . | The first protest was organised hours after two teenage boys appeared before Coleraine Magistrates' Court . |
| They spoke through an interpreter in Romanian to confirm their names and ages. Their solicitor said they would be denying the charges. | They spoke through an interpreter in Romanian to confirm their names and ages. Their solicitor said they would be denying the charges. |
| Crowds gathered in the Clonavon Terrace area for a second night of violent disorder, which has been described by police as "racist thuggery". | Crowds gathered in the Clonavon Terrace area for a second night of violent disorder, which has been described by police as "racist thuggery". |
| Riot officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had been deployed to Ballymena. | Riot officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had been deployed to Ballymena. |
| Police said they also dealt with sporadic incidents of disorder in Newtownabbey, where a man was arrested, and Carrickfergus in County Antrim and north Belfast. | |
| One man, 29, has been charged with riotous behaviour, disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police after Monday's violence. | One man, 29, has been charged with riotous behaviour, disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police after Monday's violence. |
| Debris was strewn across the streets on Wednesday morning | |
| PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said the violence endangered lives and risked the ongoing criminal justice process. | PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said the violence endangered lives and risked the ongoing criminal justice process. |
| He said the PSNI would pursue those responsible and images would be released to identify offenders. | He said the PSNI would pursue those responsible and images would be released to identify offenders. |
| "To those who have been threatened or affected by this violence: we are with you," he added. | "To those who have been threatened or affected by this violence: we are with you," he added. |
| He said the PSNI was "critically underfunded" and would be "making arrangements to activate mutual aid resources". | He said the PSNI was "critically underfunded" and would be "making arrangements to activate mutual aid resources". |
| "Our resourcing levels are not just inadequate - they are dangerous," he said. | "Our resourcing levels are not just inadequate - they are dangerous," he said. |
| Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said has urged the public to stay at home on Wednesday night. | |
| "Those that would want to come out on to the streets tonight, under the banner of protest, tonight is not the night to do that," he told the Nolan Show. | |
| There was no evidence of paramilitary involvement and the violence was "sporadic", he added. | |
| Some homes have begun displaying stickers outlining the residents' nationalities. Signs which read "British household" another with "Filipino lives here" could be seen on some doors. | Some homes have begun displaying stickers outlining the residents' nationalities. Signs which read "British household" another with "Filipino lives here" could be seen on some doors. |
| Alliance Party assembly member Sian Mulholland told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme that there was a heavily pregnant woman in one of the houses set on fire. | Alliance Party assembly member Sian Mulholland told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme that there was a heavily pregnant woman in one of the houses set on fire. |
| "We were able to direct the police to remove that family and get them out of the area to safety, to the police station," she said. | "We were able to direct the police to remove that family and get them out of the area to safety, to the police station," she said. |
| Mulholland said there was "widespread livestreaming on social media of the violence – directing people where to go, how to get around the police barricades". | Mulholland said there was "widespread livestreaming on social media of the violence – directing people where to go, how to get around the police barricades". |
| Signs have appeared outside some homes in Ballymena to indicate the nationality of residents | Signs have appeared outside some homes in Ballymena to indicate the nationality of residents |
| The area appears to have calmed but police cars were seen patrolling Ballymena on Wednesday morning, while fire fighters extinguished a small fire behind a wall near Clonavon Road. | The area appears to have calmed but police cars were seen patrolling Ballymena on Wednesday morning, while fire fighters extinguished a small fire behind a wall near Clonavon Road. |
| A clean-up operation has begun, with debris and burning items being cleared from the roads. Scorch marks and melted bins could be seen on the streets. | A clean-up operation has begun, with debris and burning items being cleared from the roads. Scorch marks and melted bins could be seen on the streets. |
| Democratic Unionist Party assembly member Paul Frew told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he feared someone would be killed in the disorder. | Democratic Unionist Party assembly member Paul Frew told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he feared someone would be killed in the disorder. |
| Frew said it was "drowning out the strong and sincere sympathies for victims of sexual violence". | Frew said it was "drowning out the strong and sincere sympathies for victims of sexual violence". |
| He said tensions had been rising for some time in Ballymena and and people were "frightened about illegal immigration". | He said tensions had been rising for some time in Ballymena and and people were "frightened about illegal immigration". |
| Police have urged anyone involved in the unrest "to reflect long and hard about their actions". | Police have urged anyone involved in the unrest "to reflect long and hard about their actions". |
| Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman on Tuesday described the events in Ballymena as "very concerning". | Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman on Tuesday described the events in Ballymena as "very concerning". |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said there was "no justification" for the rioting. | Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said there was "no justification" for the rioting. |
| The MP for North Antrim, Jim Allister, posted on social media: "Tonight's further senseless violence in Ballymena is helping no cause, just destroying our own town and getting young men criminal records. Stop it." | The MP for North Antrim, Jim Allister, posted on social media: "Tonight's further senseless violence in Ballymena is helping no cause, just destroying our own town and getting young men criminal records. Stop it." |
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