Ballymena Riots Injure 41 Police Across Multiple Nights

Ballymena, Northern Ireland, has experienced three consecutive nights of violent disorder following a peaceful protest related to a serious sexual assault case involving two 14-year-old boys charged with attempted oral rape. Rioters threw petrol bombs, bricks, fireworks, and even a hatchet at police officers, injuring a total of 41 officers over the incidents, with some requiring hospital treatment. The violence also included attacks on homes, businesses, and vehicles, and spread to nearby areas like Larne, where a leisure center was set on fire. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has made multiple arrests and is conducting extensive investigations using video footage to identify offenders. PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the violence, emphasizing that it endangers lives, disrupts communities, and threatens the criminal justice process supporting the victim. Authorities urge calm and warn that those involved in the disorder will face the full force of the law.