Northern Ireland rioters torch shelter for displaced families

Drone footage captured fiery scenes at an intersection in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday night, June 10, as anti‑immigrant riots escalated following unrest linked to an alleged sexual assault case. The unrest began after a protest was held on Monday in support of a local family whose teenage daughter was allegedly assaulted by two Romanian boys. In the wake of the demonstration, homes occupied by immigrants were targeted, with at least six set ablaze and others vandalised. Violent clashes with police continued into Tuesday evening, with rioters setting up burning barricades. Police said 32 officers were injured across two nights of violence. The following day, rioters attacked the Larne Leisure Centre—designated as a temporary shelter for families displaced by the Ballymena violence—setting it on fire and smashing windows. Local authorities confirmed that families had been relocated before the attack. Northern Ireland’s Minister for Communities, Gordon Lyons, condemned the violence, calling it senseless and harmful. “There is absolutely no excuse for what has taken place in Larne,” he said, describing the destruction as an attack on the wider community. Authorities remain on high alert as tensions continue in the region.