Why are there riots in Ballymena? The unrest in Northern Ireland explained

More than 40 police officers have been injured so far after violence in Ballymena went on for a third night.

The rioting began on Monday night following an earlier peaceful protest in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the area.

Several homes and businesses have been damaged,with windows shattered and masonry broken and flung at officers.

Worse,several homes have been set alight in what are being treated as racially-motivated hate crimes,and the disorder has spread to other Northern Irish towns.

Metro explains how the disorder began.

How the UK reacted to the Ballymena riots

Officers used a water cannon to try and disperse rioters (Picture: PAUL FAITH/AFP)

The rioting has drawn resounding condemnation from politicians and the police force alike.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: ‘It’s absolutely vital that the PSNI are given the time they need to investigate the incidents concerned rather than face mindless attacks as they seek to bring peace and order to keep people safe.’

A senior police officer took it a step further,describing the disorder as ‘racist thuggery’,with deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly calling the rioting in Ballymena ‘unacceptable thuggery’.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said on Tuesday: ‘Last night saw significant sustained disorder in Ballymena. This violence was clearly racially motivated and targeted at our minority ethnic community and police.

‘I want to condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms. It has no place in our society and should be loudly condemned by all right-thinking people.’

Northern Ireland’s First Minister condemned the ‘racist and sectarian attacks’,saying the rioting must stop immediately.

Michelle O’Neill said: ‘Those responsible for this violence bring nothing to our communities but hatred,fear and division.

‘No one,now or ever should feel the need to place a sticker on their door to identify their ethnicity just to avoid being targeted.’

Fire damage to Larne Leisure Centre which was set alight on Wednesday (Picture: REUTERS)

Labour frontbencher Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent warned it will take years to ‘rebuild what has been broken’ following nights of unrest.

She said the scenes of disorder had ‘no place’ in Northern Ireland,adding: ‘The attacks on police officers as they work to keep people safe and on property are wholly unacceptable.

‘My thoughts and prayers are with those officers still receiving treatment,and with the communities across Northern Ireland who woke up this morning very scared.

‘This is not something that is now going to be solved tomorrow.

‘Community engagement efforts will have to continue for months and years to rebuild what has been broken over the last 24 hours.’