Some 63 police officers have been injured in what has been called a “ week of shame ” in Northern Ireland. Disorder started in Ballymena on Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the Co Antrim town at the weekend, and continued throughout the week.

Disorder in Northern Ireland has continued for a third day and spread across the country as rioters hurled petrol bombs, masonry and fireworks at police.Over 30 police officers have been injured during the sustained unrest while multiple properties and vehicles have been set on fire.

Plans by Naomi Long to visit Ballymena in the aftermath of racist rioting have been “put on hold” until the justice minister recovers from Covid. The Department of Justice said on Friday that the minister has been ill since last weekend but has “maintained active contact” with the PSNI, Secretary of State Hilary Benn and her officials.

Some 63 police officers have been injured in what has been called a “ week of shame ” in Northern Ireland. Disorder started in Ballymena on Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the Co Antrim town at the weekend, and continued throughout the week.

Unrest has erupted in the Northern Irish town after the alleged sexual assault of a local girl by two 'Romanian' teenagers

Police Scotland has agreed to send officers to Northern Ireland after two nights of disorder in Ballymena. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) asked for extra support under mutual aid arrangements following violent scenes in the County Antrim town.

Police in Northern Ireland say 17 officers were injured during a second night of anti-immigrant violence in the town of Ballymena.

The police said that attacks on houses and businesses in the town of Ballymena were being investigated as racially motivated, and that 15 officers had been injured.

PORTADOWN, Northern Ireland (Reuters) -Rioters attacked police with petrol bombs, rocks and fireworks in the Northern Irish town of Portadown on Thursday, a Reuters witness said, as a fourth night

Five people were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour in Ballymena during a second night of unrest in the Northern Ireland town.

In Ballymena on Wednesday, the PSNI deployed riot police for a third night in a row as hundreds gathered around the Clonavon Terrace area. At least one protester was struck by plastic baton rounds fired by police while officers also used a water cannon on the crowd.