10.06.2025 10:20
Following the court appearance of two 14-year-old boys accused of attempting to sexually assault a young girl in the town of Ballymena, Northern Ireland, protests in the area turned into violent incidents. Protesters set fire to trash bins and barricades, broke windows of some houses, and threw paint cans and bottles at police vehicles.
After the court appearance of two 14-year-old boys accused of attempting to sexually assault a young girl in the town of Ballymena, Northern Ireland, protests in the area turned into violent incidents.
Following the incident that allegedly took place last weekend, the crowd that gathered for a protest on Monday got out of control after the boys were brought to court. The streets turned into a battlefield. Protesters set fire to trash cans and barricades, broke windows of some houses, and threw paint cans and bottles at police vehicles.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) intervened with armored vehicles and drones to suppress the incidents. Fire crews responded to the fires while checking if anyone was inside the houses. The police asked the local community to stay away from the scene.
The two boys were brought before the Coleraine Magistrates' Court on Monday morning. Both denied the charges of attempted sexual assault against them. They attended the hearing with a Romanian interpreter. While the police continued their investigation into the incident, they announced that a third suspect was also being sought.
In a statement regarding the events, Assistant Chief Constable Sue Steen said, "Such acts of violence only lead to more risk. I urge our community to act sensibly and assist the law enforcement agencies," she stated.
The fact that the children are of Romanian origin led to the events turning into an anti-immigrant reaction. Some posts on social media were of a nature that incited the public to riot. This situation caused the events to evolve from merely a judicial case into a political and social issue.