In Northern Ireland, unrest continues following an attack on a girl

• Ongoing unrest in Northern Ireland began after an attack on a girl.
• The police used water cannons and received support from other regions to control the situation.
• Politicians condemn the violence, which has a racial undertone and is targeted at minorities.

This is reported by The Independent, Al Jazeera.

Unrest continues in Northern Ireland, which started in Ballymena after reports of an attack on a teenager. On Wednesday, June 11, a group of masked individuals set fire to a leisure center in Larne, marking the third night of violence.

The unrest began on Monday following a peaceful vigil organized in support of the girl who became a victim of sexual violence. As a result of the violence, 32 police officers were injured, and six individuals were arrested for offenses.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) deployed water cannons and called in additional forces to manage the unrest. During the disturbances in Ballymena and neighboring towns such as Newtownabbey and Coleraine, there were attacks on police and others who were affected by the violence.

Among the politicians expressing outrage were UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who condemned the violence, and Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill, who described the events as "sheer racism." The police also reported "racially motivated" violence targeting minorities.

Police Operations

The Police Service of Northern Ireland reported that the situation remained tense and sought assistance from colleagues in other regions of the UK. According to the latest information, two teenagers accused of the attack appeared in court, where they denied the charges against them.

According to Ryan Henderson, Deputy Chief of Police, the unrest could undermine justice in the investigation of the sexual violence case. He also noted that the police had already faced attacks involving bottles, stones, and fireworks.

Local residents noted that the attacks were directed at foreigners, and some families were forced to leave their homes due to the threat of violence.

Теги: Європа/Злочинність