‘Stop this violence’ plea as disorder continues in Northern Ireland
Police attacked as unrest in Northern Ireland spreads to another town
- Police in Northern Ireland have faced a fourth consecutive night of attacks, with officers targeted by missiles in Portadown following earlier unrest in Ballymena.
- The violence was triggered by an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena. Two teenage boys charged with attempted rape have faced court with the aid of a Romanian interpreter.
- Police Chief Jon Boutcher said the alleged victim's family is “mortified” by the disorder and is pleading for the violence to stop.
- Mr Boutcher warned “bigots and racists” behind the unrest that his officers will be coming after them.
- Forty-one officers had been injured and 15 people arrested as of Thursday evening, with police deploying water cannons, dogs, and plastic baton rounds to disperse crowds.