Ethnic Riots Erupt in Northern Ireland Following Sexual Assault Allegations

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hundreds of masked rioters attacked police and set fire to Romanian homes, stores, and cars in Ballymena, Northern Ireland on the second night of the riots. Police described the riots as "racially motivated." The riots followed protests over alleged sexual assaults in the city.

Police said they faced serious disorder on Tuesday night in the city, located about 45 km (30 miles) from the capital Belfast. Police urged people to avoid the area.

Officers in riot gear and armored vehicles deployed. Officers responded to the rioters' attacks with water cannons and plastic baton rounds after being targeted with petrol bombs, steel rods, and stones. Rioters attempted to knock down a nearby wall.

Quoted from Al Jazeera, one house was set on fire. Rioters attempted to set a second house on fire, according to reports, while several cars were torched.

The Belfast Telegraph reported that some residents in Ballymena had begun marking their front doors to indicate citizenship to avoid attacks. Meanwhile, the Irish media reported calls for protests to be held in other cities in Northern Ireland, which is currently part of the United Kingdom (UK).

In earlier violence on Monday, four homes were damaged by fires and windows and doors were smashed at homes and other businesses. Police are investigating racially motivated hate attacks.

"The scenes of civilian disorder we witnessed in Ballymena again last night have no place in Northern Ireland," said UK Northern Ireland Minister Hilary Been in a social media post.

"There is absolutely no justification for the assault on PSNI officers or the vandalism targeted at homes or property," she added.

The riots first broke out on Monday night following a commemoration event in the Ballymena neighborhood where the alleged sexual assault occurred on Saturday. The riots started when masked individuals "separated from the commemoration event and began erecting barricades, stockpiling missiles, and attacking property."

Police have arrested two teenage males on charges of attempted rape of a teenage girl. The suspects appeared in court the previous day. They have requested a Romanian language interpreter, according to local media reports.

Tensions in the city, which has a large migrant population, remained high throughout Tuesday. Residents described the incident as "terrifying." They told reporters that foreigners were being targeted and chased by the rioters.

"This violence is clearly racially motivated and aimed at minority ethnic communities and the police," said Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson.

Cornelia Albu, 52, a Romanian migrant and a mother of two living across the targeted house, said her family was very scared.

"Last night was crazy, because too many people came here and tried to set the house on fire," said Albu, who works in a factory.

She said she now has to move, but she worries she won't find another place to live because she is Romanian.

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