- Two 14-year-olds were charged with attempted oral rape of a teenage girl
- A 28-year-old man was arrested on Monday in relation to the alleged assault
Chaos ripped through Northern Ireland last night with riot police battling masked thugs on the streets of Ballymena, as violence erupted in the town for a second day.
A crowd of 300 yobs hurled petrol bombs at cops, smashed windows and torched cars throughout the Harryville area - the day after a peaceful vigil of 2,500 people on Monday descended into mayhem.
Officers and dog units - who condemned the 'racist thuggery' of rioters - delivered a firm response, firing baton rounds and water canons as they desperately fought to bring the crowds to order.
The PSNI confirmed a number of homes and businesses were attacked as the mob rampaged across the town, while disorder also sparked in Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus and north Belfast. Further protests have reportedly been planned for tonight.
It comes after two 14-year-old boys - who both required a Romanian interpreter in court - were charged with the attempted oral rape of a teenage girl on June 7.
A third arrest was made in relation to the sexual assault on Monday night as a 28-year-old man was taken in for questioning and then released.
As horror spread across Ballymena last night masked thugs threw bottles, wood, rocks, metal bars, wheelie bins, and even a child's bike.
In shocking scenes fireworks were aimed at police lines, receiving a large cheer from the crowd of protesters.
Protestors walk past a fire set in a street of Ballymena, Northern Ireland as riots raged through the town
A water cannon is used as police officers stand guard during a second night of riots in Ballymena
A thug wearing a balaclava hurls something at lines of police officers as cops came under attack for a second night
Protesters throw projectiles and start fires as unrest continues on June 10 in Ballymena
Police officers stand guard during the second night of riot as smoke belches into the sky
Firefighters get into a house where the windows have been smashed after demonstrators tried to enter
Riot police clash with masked yobs in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday night during a protest over an alleged sexual assault
Litter and debris were seen strewn across the roads and pavements, while smashed glass covered the town's streets.
Families in the area told reporters they were fleeing their homes while some residents marked their doors with their nationality in an apparent bid to avoid attack.
Vehicles parked on the road were smashed up with hammers, while rioters bust their tyres and tipped them upside down.
Officers from the PSNI ran through the town accompanied by police dogs, dodging flying objects and debris from the blazes.
Armoured Land Rovers tried to protect homes while police detained individuals and forced hundreds of people away from properties. Officers used a loudspeaker to make a repeat warning to 'disperse as force is about to be used against violent individuals'.
Baton rounds - a less lethal alternative to traditional bullets - were fired on protesters, the PSNI later revealed.
In a statement early this morning, when the rioting had finally been quelled at 1am, the force said: 'Calm has been restored in Ballymena following serious disorder in the Clonavon Terrace, North Road and Bridge Street areas last night.
'Disorder broke out shortly before 8pm and continued for several hours with masonry and petrol bombs thrown at police officers and police vehicles. A number of homes and businesses were also attacked.
Riot police wearing armour and carrying shields chase down a protestor in Ballymena
A car is set on fire and tipped upside down in Ballymena on Tuesday night amid the chaos
A huge fire erupts in the middle of the street surrounded by protesters in Northern Ireland on Tuesday
People's cars were set on fire throughout the town and their windows smashed in
Police dogs attend the scene to assist officers and attempt to control the chaos
A masked thug throws a wheelie bin into the fire during the second evening of riots in the town
Police officers stands in front of a house after demonstrators vandalised it during the second night of mayhem
Officers stand guard behind police vehicles as flames rise during the second evening of riots
Wheelie bins are set on fire during the riot in Ballymena on Tuesday which spiralled out of control
Police officers stand guard as they clash with masked yobs during day two of demonstrations
Officers line up as the riots continue to erupt into complete chaos for the second night in a row
A police officer falls to the ground during Tuesday's riots in Northern Ireland
People run among the flames in Ballymena on Tuesday during the second evening of chaos
Multiple fires have cropped up around the town, with street objects set alight
'During the disorder, authorised officers discharged a number of Attenuating Energy Projectiles (AEPs) and the water cannon was also deployed in an attempt to disperse the crowds. Calm was restored to the area at around 1am.
'Police also dealt with sporadic disorder in Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus with some incidents in north Belfast.'
Flames roared dangerously close to residential properties as thick plumes of smoke filled the air. Houses were seen with their windows smashed in and doors vandalised with holes kicked through them.
A water cannon was deployed by PSNI on the crowds, as a huge blaze came from the end of a row of terraced homes and among traffic lights in the town centre.
The Northern Ireland Secretary said there is 'no justification' for attacks on police officers or vandalism in Ballymena.
In a social media post, Hilary Benn said: 'The terrible scenes of civil disorder we have witnessed in Ballymena again this evening have no place in Northern Ireland.
'There is absolutely no justification for attacks on PSNI officers or for vandalism directed at people's homes or property.'
The scenes of violence in Ballymena on Monday saw 15 police injured and four homes set alight.
A Romanian mother-of-three who lives in one of the houses attacked during the violence said she has been left too scared to stay in the area.
She said her children were asking why their house was being attacked during disturbances in the town on Monday night.
Masked yobs face riot police on the street in the town centre, which has been set on fire
A person walks among the fire created during the demonstration over an alleged sexual assault
Riot police run through the town with their armour as they try to control the crowd
A man appears to run from riot police next to a stack of fallen shopping trolleys
Police vehicles are parked in a line forming a wall, seemingly to stop crowds getting through
Firefighters check houses in Ballymena as the evening of chaos continues in Northern Ireland
People walk as flames rise during the protest in Northern Ireland on Tuesday evening
Officers use a water cannon near Clonavon Terrace, Ballymena, as people take part in day two of the protests
Police gather to face protestors next to a fire set in the streets during the riot on Tuesday evening
People walk past a fire set in a street of Ballymena, which has wooden poles coming out of it
Armed police in riot gear stand guard during a second night of riots in Ballymena
Police officers line up with their armour to protect them from the out of control crowds
A police officer stands in front of a house after demonstrators vandalised it during the second night of riots
A firefighter holds a flashlight while opening a window of a house that protesters vandalised on day two of the riots
Rioters stand among the flames created during the evening's violent demonstration
Demonstrators dressed in dark, hooded clothes face an armoured police vehicle
Several properties were damaged on Clonavon Terrace, while a number of residents said on Tuesday that they now intend to leave the area.
The woman from Romania, who said she was too afraid to give her name, claimed she tried to flee her house after the front window was broken.
'The children were asking me why are we being attacked,' she said.
'I don't want to stay here now, the children are afraid and I am afraid.'
A Romanian man said he had lived in the area for 15 years. 'We don't even know why this happened to us,' he said.
'The riots started last night. We didn't expect it to come to our house.
'We tried to get out of the house and go to a safe place.
'I have lived here 15 years. Everything else has been nice, everything has been OK.
'I have so many friends in Ballymena, I have got so much support.
'Everyone was texting and asking us if we are OK, if we are safe, if they can do anything for us.'
He added: 'I am lucky because the damage here is not too bad, but my sister has three kids, I have a little girl.
'We are going to live in a friend's house for a while and then try to move out of here.'
He said: 'I like to believe I am a Ballymena man now, I have been living here half of my life.
'I understand if people want to protest but it did not have to be like this.
'We should not have to pay the price.'
A water cannon has also been deployed by PSNI on the crowds in Ballymena, as a huge blaze and plumes of smoke came from the end of a row of terraced houses
Riot police vans at Clonavon Terrace as people take part in a protest over an alleged sexual assault in the Co Antrim town
People take part in a second night of riots in Ballymena, Northern Ireland
Fireworks are set off near emergency vehicles during Tuesday's demonstration in Northern Ireland
Police vehicles are seen on fire at Tuesday's out of control protest in Northern Ireland
Armed police officers attend the scene in a bid to control day two of the riots in Ballymena
Litter and debris can be seen strewn across the roads and pavements while smashed glass covers the town's streets
A street is set on fire surrounded by people as Tuesday's demonstration erupts into chaos
Troubles flair during the demonstration in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday
A water cannon has been deployed by PSNI on the crowds in Ballymena on Tuesday evening
A wall of riot police and armoured Land Rovers try to protect homes and force the crowd up the road
Police have appealed for calm after serious disorder broke out again on Tuesday evening
Huge flames and clouds of smoke come from the end of a row of houses during Tuesday's riots
Police vans at Clonavon Terrace as people take part in a protest again on Tuesday evening
Disorder has exploded onto the streets again on Tuesday in Northern Ireland
Fireworks were allegedly fired at police lines, an action which received a large cheer from the crowd of protesters
A water cannon has also been deployed by PSNI on the crowds in Ballymena, as a huge blaze and plumes of smoke came from the end of a row of terraced houses
Chaos breaks out again in Ballymena on Tuesday for a second evening in a row
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the force had a significant operation in place over the coming days in case there was any repeat of the disturbances on Monday night in the town.
He said: 'We are actively working to identify those responsible for last night's racially motivated disorder in Ballymena and bring them to justice.
'Anyone who has information or who can help identify those responsible is asked to contact police on 101.'
A 29-year-old man was charged with riotous behaviour after being arrested during disorder in Ballymena on Monday night.
The man, who is due to appear before Ballymena Magistrates' Court on Thursday, July 3, has also been charged with disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police.
Mr Henderson said other arrests are expected following the examination of video footage.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman described the events which saw police and ethnic minorities targeted as 'very concerning'.
