"Mob" in Riot Mode: Xenophobic Attacks on Foreigners Rock Northern Ireland After Sectarian Riots
Police detain suspects after violent racially charged disturbances in Northern Ireland
A series of racially-charged incidents, spurred by an alleged sexual assault case, has sent Northern Ireland into a state of chaos, with locals taking to the streets to target foreigners in a wave of xenophobic violence. Over two nights, five cities have been hit with riots, arson, and attacks on police, leaving 17 officers injured and six individuals in custody.
The riots started in Ballymena, around 48 kilometers northwest of Belfast, following a teenage girl’s alleged sexual assault on Saturday. Two Romanian teenagers were taken into custody on Monday and requested a translator. The ensuing riot was sparked by a crowd protesting against the suspects, but soon turned aggressive, with masked individuals and mobs targeting foreigners and their homes.
Residents in Ballymena described the scene to AFP as "terrifying," with the rioters destroying properties, smashing windows, and setting fires. Additionally, four cities outside of Ballymena experienced similar disturbances. The affected towns include Lisburn, Coleraine, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus, and Belfast.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his disapproval for the mindless violence, while the Northern Irish government called for calm, condemning the "racist violence" that has recently transpired. The chief of the Northern Irish police, Jon Boutcher, warned of "hate-filled acts" and the "rule of the mob."
Meanwhile, the targets of these riots are mostly immigrants from Romania, Bulgaria, and the Philippines. Understandably, these communities are left feeling threatened and scared. Some have taken to displaying British flags to avoid detection, while others prefer to keep their homes dark at night and remain prepared to flee at a moment's notice.
Historically, Northern Ireland has been plagued with sectarian tensions and, more recently, increasing xenophobia towards immigrants from Eastern Europe. Incidents of crime involving immigrants have been instrumental in branding entire communities as undesirable and serving as a catalyst for violent outbreaks like the one currently unfolding in Ballymena.
With over 1,500 members of the Roma minority residing in Northern Ireland and around 6,500 Romanians living in the British region, the impacts of these riots extend beyond a single city. Restoring community safety and addressing the underlying issues of racism and xenophobia will require concerted efforts from the police and wider society to prevent further escalations and protect the victimized immigrant communities.
Sources: ntv.de, mau/AFP
The ongoing series of xenophobic attacks in Northern Ireland, primarily targeting immigrants from Romania, Bulgaria, and the Philippines, have raised concerns about the community's employment and general-news policies, which might need reevaluation in light of the growing incidents of crime and racism.
The recent riots in various cities, like Ballymena, Lisburn, Coleraine, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus, and Belfast, have exposed crucial political issues, necessitating a comprehensive employment policy to protect the affected immigrant communities and promote social harmony.
