Northern Ireland riots escalate as police attacked with petrol bombs

Riots escalated in Northern Ireland for a fourth consecutive night on Thursday, with police officers in Portadown coming under sustained attack from petrol bombs, fireworks, and rocks amid ongoing anti-immigrant protests.

What began earlier this week as a peaceful demonstration in Ballymena, after two 14-year-old boys were charged with a serious sexual assault, has since spiralled into widespread disorder across multiple towns. The charges were read in court with the help of a Romanian interpreter, triggering outrage and fueling tensions around immigration.

Earlier on Thursday, violence shifted to Portadown, nearly 50 kilometers from Belfast, where roughly 400 people gathered. While some initially protested peacefully, the situation quickly deteriorated.

Rioters pulled masonry from derelict buildings, set fires in the streets, and threw projectiles at police. Officers issued warnings via loudspeakers, threatening to use baton rounds if the crowd did not disperse.

Over 20 police vehicles, along with heavily armored units and a helicopter, were deployed to manage the unrest. A number of fires were extinguished by officers as clashes continued into the night.

Since the violence erupted on Monday, 41 police officers have been injured and 15 people arrested.

Other towns, including Ballymena—the epicenter of the initial unrest—saw a quieter night on Thursday, aided by a significant police presence and heavy rainfall. However, authorities remain on high alert across the province.

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MLA Jonathan Buckley appealed for calm, saying, “Nobody wants to see violence on our streets. The scenes over the past few days have been disturbing.”

Local housing associations also warned residents to take precautions, with fears that further violence could erupt in the coming days.

(With inputs from Reuters)