The grim and violent side of Ballymena, Northern Ireland, was once again prominently displayed last night. Angry mobs rampaged through the streets for a second consecutive evening, prompting riot police from various regions to intervene against the escalating chaos. The night was filled with blaring sirens and the constant barrage of bricks and petrol bombs targeting police vehicles.
The main roads turned into a battleground with fires in the middle of the carriageway, burning cars, and shards of broken glass littering the streets. Masked and hooded young men faced off against water cannons as tensions reached a boiling point in the fragile community.
This unrest had been brewing for days, starting with a vigil for a girl allegedly victimized by a sex attack, which was hijacked by anti-immigration groups. The authorities reported that "racist thugs" seized the opportunity to target foreign individuals living in the area.
A shocking turn of events unfolded when news broke in the middle of the night that another house had been firebombed. Upon arrival, the scene revealed a charred shell of a property, completely gutted. Neighbors recounted how a large group of "protesters" gathered outside, forcing the foreign occupants to flee, leaving one woman distraught and in tears.
As the situation escalated, families resorted to displaying posters on their windows and unfurling union jack flags to protect their homes. The tensions were palpable as the crowds in Ballymena felt unfairly labeled as racists by the police, further fueling the conflict.
One resident expressed frustration, suggesting that the community had reached its breaking point with newcomers. As the night drew to a close, families were seen dragging suitcases through the streets, escorted by riot police for a late-night escape to safety.
The uncertainty looms over Ballymena as the unrest shows no signs of abating. Speculations suggest that the turmoil may extend for weeks, raising concerns about the immense pressure on the police force to de-escalate the situation.
Read more from Sky News:
- Overnight curfew imposed in Los Angeles
- Details of spending review emerge
Watch the video on the aftermath of ‘racist thuggery’ in Ballymena