Unrest erupted in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, with police reporting that objects were thrown at officers after crowds assembled near the location of an alleged sexual assault. The incident occurred following a protest earlier in the evening.
The police statement also indicated that damage had been reported to several properties in the area. Authorities advised both drivers and pedestrians to steer clear of the Clonavon Road area. Police presence was maintained to monitor the situation.
Chief Superintendent Sue Steen urged calm and responsible behavior, emphasizing that violence and disorder would endanger people. The police's primary objective was to ensure community safety, and they appealed for cooperation to restore peace to the area as swiftly as possible.
Reports from local media indicated that individuals with masked faces were observed throwing masonry. Additionally, a police vehicle sustained damage, with two windows broken. The protests were triggered by the court appearance of two boys in connection with an alleged serious sexual assault on Clonavon Road.
Prior to the unrest, on Sunday, police announced the charging of two teenage boys in connection with an investigation into a serious sexual assault involving a teenage girl in the nearby Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena.
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