Latest news with #raciallyMotivatedViolence
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill calls on Ballymena attacks to stop
First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said attacks on families across Northern Ireland and rioting in Ballymena are "abhorrent and must stop immediately".Petrol bombs, masonry and fireworks were thrown at police on Tuesday night, in a second night of serious disorder the County Antrim town of disorder began on Monday after a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in the County Antrim police officers have been injured. O'Neill said those responsible "bring nothing to our communities but hatred, fear and division".She added: "No-one, now or ever, should feel the need to place a sticker on their door to identify their ethnicity just to avoid being targeted."The Sinn Féin deputy leader said she had spoken to the chief constable "and urged him to ensure those responsible for orchestrating and perpetuating these crimes are held fully to account". Ministers appeal for calm In a joint statement, politicians in the Northern Ireland Executive appealed for statement on behalf of ministers from Sinn Féin, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Alliance Party and the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) said: "We strongly condemn the racially motivated violence witnessed in recent days and make an urgent appeal for calm across society"."The alleged serious sexual assault reported on 7 June in Ballymena was appalling and our collective thoughts are with the victim and their loved ones at this deeply traumatic time."It is paramount that the justice process is now allowed to take its course so that this heinous crime can be robustly investigated."Those weaponising the situation in order to sow racial tensions do not care about seeing justice and have nothing to offer their communities but division and disorder." DUP North Antrim assembly member Paul Frew said he fears someone will be killed in Ballymena if the violence said the disorder is "drowning out the strong and sincere sympathies for victims of sexual violence".The UUP said there is no justification for the "mayhem" that has happened over the last two nights and street violence is not a "legitimate" way to express concerns over the alleged sexual leader Mike Nesbitt said: "My thoughts are with those who have lost their homes and the greater number who are feeling intimidated and unwelcome."I also stand in solidarity with the blue lights, not just the PSNI but also the Fire and Rescue Service, who have had to deal with a number of house fires." 'Underlying tensions' Speaking to BBC Newsline on Tuesday, North Antrim MP Jim Allister said underlying tensions in Ballymena had been "there for a long time" because there was "an oversubscription of migrants who had been placed there".When asked about what evidence he was drawing on, the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) said the last time he canvassed a street in the area with 50 houses, he came "upon five local, if I can call them that, residents of Ballymena".After Tuesday night's violence, he 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."SDLP leader Claire Hanna responded by saying "some politicians are choosing to explain away" episodes of violence."We are hearing words of condemnation which are, at best insincere, and many people would describe as weaselly," she added."You can choose each day when you have a mandate and a platform to get up and try and solve problems or you can choose to exploit them, you can choose to try to calm tensions or you can try and fan them."Justice Minister Naomi Long said she was appalled by the "disturbing scenes", while Sinn Féin's Philip McGuigan, who represents the North Antrim constituency, appealed for calm and urged political leaders to "use measured language".
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Anti-immigrant riots erupt over underage rape case (VIDEOS)
At least 15 police officers were injured during angry protests in Northern Ireland overnight on Monday, following court hearing in which two Romanian-speaking minors were charged with the attempted rape of a local girl. Both have denied the charges. Northern Ireland police have branded the ensuing unrest as racially motivated violence. A vigil in the town of Ballymena involving some several hundred people eventually turned violent as masked protesters reportedly started throwing petrol bombs and bricks at police and attempting to set homes they believed belonged to the families of the accused on fire. Videos from the scene showed the rioters erecting barricades on the streets and setting them alight as well as smashing windows. One person was arrested on 'suspicion of riotous and disorderly behavior,' the police said, according to the Belfast Telegraph. Northern Irelands response tonight (Ballymena my hometown) to a youn girl raped on Saturday by Romanian immigrants The Police Federation for Northern Ireland branded the riots 'totally mindless, unacceptable, and feral.' The alleged victim's family also condemned the unrest but also thanked 'the people who came from far and wide to support us and ask that justice be served in the correct manner.' 🚨ATTEMPTED RAPE BY A MIGRANT IN BALLYMENA, NORTHERN IRELANDThis is going to get very ugly if the government don't they won' will let you be angry so they can point their fingers at you and say YOU are the need deportations have… Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the violence 'was clearly racially motivated and targeted at our minority ethnic community and police'. Tensions reached boiling point in Ballymena took to the streets after foreigners attacked a number of people in the area. The homes of those responsible were targeted as the community made it clear they are not welcome. Last year, local police reported a surge in what it called race hate crimes. According to the law enforcement data, the number of such crimes grew by 309 in Northern Ireland between September 2023 and September 2024, an increase of approximately 33% compared with the previous 12 months. The police linked the increase to mass anti-immigration protests in the province and across the UK in early August, following a knife attack at a dance workshop in Southport, England, in July 2024, when a teenager of Rwandan descent stabbed three children to death and injured eight others.
