Watch: Riots erupt in Ireland after alleged sexual assault of girl
Riots erupted in the town of Ballymena in Northern Ireland on Monday night after two 14-year-old boys appeared in court over an alleged attempted rape -- a case that has inflamed local tensions, particularly after it was revealed the teens required a Romanian interpreter.An estimated 2,500 people gathered for a protest march in the Harryville area in response to the alleged sexual assault, which took place Saturday evening in the Clonavon Terrace area. The peaceful protest quickly spiralled into unrest, with crowds clashing with police in scenes of public disorder that continued late into the night.BallymenaPSNI stand and watch as locals in Ballymena smash the windows of the house belonging to the family of the foreigners who have arrested for raping young girl in the area. pic.twitter.com/4Do1vVcwk7— Real News ire (@real_eire) June 9, 2025advertisementThe unrest follows a protest in the area, about 45 km (30 miles) from the capital city of Belfast, earlier on Monday evening, the police statement said, adding damage was reported to a number of properties. "We are urging everyone to remain calm and to act responsibly," said Chief Superintendent Sue Steen in a statement, as authorities confirmed missiles had been thrown at police and property damage was reported throughout the town centre.
Footage circulating on social media appeared to show flames rising near residential buildings, masked individuals confronting police, and objects being hurled at PSNI vehicles. While Reuters noted it could not independently verify the clips, local residents confirmed the scenes reflected the growing tension in the area.Locals face off with PSNI in Ballymena as people hit the streets following 2 rapes by migrants in a fortnight.pic.twitter.com/LaP4s50D35— Tommy Robinson (@TRobinsonNewEra) June 9, 2025advertisementUNREST AFTER COURT HEARINGThe violence occured after the court appearance of the two teenage boys, who were charged with attempted rape and cannot be named due to their age. The case, heard at Coleraine Magistrates' Court, has drawn significant media and public attention -- not only due to the nature of the alleged assault but also due to the nationality of the accused.Irish broadcaster RTE confirmed that both teenagers are Romanian nationals and required an interpreter for the court proceedings. The detail, though procedural, appeared to stoke outrage amongst some in the protest crowd.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
12 hours ago
- Hans India
Ireland: Petrol bombs hurled at police after alleged sexual assault of girl
Violence erupted in Ireland as protesters threw petrol bombs at police officers and set homes on fire, outraged over a sexual assault incident. The unrest followed after the court appearance of the two teenage boys charged with the attempted rape of a teenage girl in the Ballymena town of County Antrim region, according to media reports. According to the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the police officers were attacked with a number of missiles and extensive damage was reported to various properties. Chief Superintendent Sue Steen urged locals to "remain calm and to act responsibly." "Violence and disorder will only place people at greater risk. Our priority is to keep the community safe, and I would appeal to everyone to work with us to bring calm to the area as quickly as possible," she said. According to the Irish media outlet RTE News, the two teenagers charged with attempted rape in connection with a serious sexual assault on a teenage girl in Ballymena on Saturday evening presented before the court virtually. Both are Romanians and spoke through an interpreter during court proceedings. Meanwhile, District Judge Peter King remanded the two teenagers in custody until a further hearing before a youth court in Ballymena on July 2. Reports suggest that thousands of people gathered in Ballymena at a protest in connection with the ongoing court sexual assault case. The peaceful protest eventually turned violent as public disorder broke out in Ballymena. Later, chaos broke out in the streets of the town as masked youths attacked police vehicles and threw projectiles at officers. Furthermore, protestors were engaged in arson and vandalising property by smashing windows. The footage circulating on social media captured a masked man throwing an object at a police van as onlookers stood by. Thick black smoke filled the sky as flames engulfed an area near a house with shattered windows.
India Today
19 hours ago
- India Today
Watch: Riots erupt in Ireland after alleged sexual assault of girl
Riots erupted in the town of Ballymena in Northern Ireland on Monday night after two 14-year-old boys appeared in court over an alleged attempted rape -- a case that has inflamed local tensions, particularly after it was revealed the teens required a Romanian estimated 2,500 people gathered for a protest march in the Harryville area in response to the alleged sexual assault, which took place Saturday evening in the Clonavon Terrace area. The peaceful protest quickly spiralled into unrest, with crowds clashing with police in scenes of public disorder that continued late into the stand and watch as locals in Ballymena smash the windows of the house belonging to the family of the foreigners who have arrested for raping young girl in the area. Real News ire (@real_eire) June 9, 2025advertisementThe unrest follows a protest in the area, about 45 km (30 miles) from the capital city of Belfast, earlier on Monday evening, the police statement said, adding damage was reported to a number of properties. "We are urging everyone to remain calm and to act responsibly," said Chief Superintendent Sue Steen in a statement, as authorities confirmed missiles had been thrown at police and property damage was reported throughout the town centre. Footage circulating on social media appeared to show flames rising near residential buildings, masked individuals confronting police, and objects being hurled at PSNI vehicles. While Reuters noted it could not independently verify the clips, local residents confirmed the scenes reflected the growing tension in the face off with PSNI in Ballymena as people hit the streets following 2 rapes by migrants in a Tommy Robinson (@TRobinsonNewEra) June 9, 2025advertisementUNREST AFTER COURT HEARINGThe violence occured after the court appearance of the two teenage boys, who were charged with attempted rape and cannot be named due to their age. The case, heard at Coleraine Magistrates' Court, has drawn significant media and public attention -- not only due to the nature of the alleged assault but also due to the nationality of the broadcaster RTE confirmed that both teenagers are Romanian nationals and required an interpreter for the court proceedings. The detail, though procedural, appeared to stoke outrage amongst some in the protest crowd.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Suspects in arson attacks linked to UK PM appear in court
Representative Image (AI-generated) Three men, including two Ukrainians, charged over arson attacks on properties and a car linked to UK prime minister Keir Starmer will go on trial in April 2026, a court ruled Friday. Roman Lavrynovych, 21, and Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, appeared at London's Old Bailey court via video link from Belmarsh high-security prison, where they are being held. The third suspect, Petro Pochynok, 34, refused to leave his cell to attend the hearing. All three are suspected of involvement in the fire that targeted Starmer's former residence in Kentish Town, north London, on the night of May 11-12, causing damage to the entrance of the house. The Labour leader has not lived there since moving to 10, Downing Street when he became prime minister last July, but he still owns it, according to British media. Ukrainian-born Lavrynovych faces three charges of arson with intent to endanger life. Pochynok, 34, a Ukrainian national, and Carpiuc, 26, a Ukrainian-born Romanian, are both charged with conspiring to commit arson with intent to endanger life. Lavrynovych and Carpiuc spoke through an interpreter to confirm their identities. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Chrissy Metz Is So Skinny Now And She Looks Like A Model Cleverst Undo Their trial has been scheduled for April 27, 2026. The next hearing, when the three men will submit their pleas, is scheduled for October 17. They will remain in custody until then. The trio are also suspected of being behind an arson attack on a vehicle previously owned by the prime minister on May 8 and another at the front door of a house once owned by Starmer on May 11. Carpiuc's lawyer Jay Nutkins told the court on Friday that his client "denies he was part of any conspiracy" and that he was "not present" at the scene of the fires. A fourth man was arrested and taken into custody on Monday as part of the investigation.
