Rioters attack police on fourth night of Northern Ireland unrest
Rioters attacked police with missiles on the fourth night of unrest in Northern Ireland.
Masked youths in Portadown, County Armagh, launched masonry at riot police as a week of disorder continued.
The unrest came despite Northern Ireland's police chief vowing to arrest and prosecute the 'bigots and racists' behind the violence.
A total of 41 police officers have been injured in the riots and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has made 15 arrests so far.
Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said on Thursday that the girl whose alleged attempted rape triggered the riots had been 'traumatised' by the violence.
'This girl's family and this girl want it to end,' he said. 'Our communities want it to end. We need it to end. So please don't come out on the streets tonight. If you do, we will police you and we will deal with you through the criminal justice system.'
He said foreign families had been forced to hide in attics and wardrobes in their homes in Ballymena as rioters went on the rampage on Monday.
Thursday's disorder appeared less intense than earlier in the week.
There was no repeat of unrest in Ballymena for the first time since the riots started in the County Antrim town on Monday.
Police said a separate protest in east Belfast also ended early in the evening.
The PSNI has drafted in 80 officers from Scotland to assist in its crackdown on the riots.
Earlier, a judge said the courts would deal 'robustly' with those involved in the violence in Ballymena.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said that young people who got involved were risking a significant custodial sentence, as three teenagers faced rioting charges at the town's magistrates' court on Thursday.
Michael Elliot, 18, of Lanntara, Ballymena, and two youths, were the first defendants to appear in court since the sustained violence erupted on Monday.
On Thursday, there was an arson attack on a leisure centre in Larne, 30 minutes from Ballymena, after it was temporarily used as an emergency shelter for those in urgent need after disturbances in the town earlier in the week.
The unrest was triggered when two Romanian-speaking 14-year-old boys appeared in court charged with the attempted rape of a girl in Ballymena.
It prompted a peaceful protest against sexual crime on Monday which was followed by violence later that evening.
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BreakingNews.ie
38 minutes ago
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Advertisement Damaged property at Clonavon Terrace, Ballymena (Jonathan McCambridge/PA) Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly described a 'difficult time for Northern Ireland', with 'disgraceful scenes of violent disorder', and said her thoughts are with the residents of the areas affected. Additional police officers from Scotland will support the Police Service of Northern Ireland after a mutual aid request. Scottish First Minister John Swinney said it was an illustration of how co-operation between police forces is 'absolutely essential'. While disorder in Ballymena raged across Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights, it appeared to have abated on Thursday. However, there was still disorder in Portadown. Advertisement There have also been incidents in other towns, including the burning of Larne Leisure Centre on Wednesday and an arson attack on a house in Coleraine in the early hours of Friday, from which a man and woman, and four young children escaped. 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The Independent
an hour ago
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PSNI prepares ‘scaled-up' operation for weekend after disorder
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