Romanians from Northern Ireland, victims of extreme violence. They set their homes and business. “The children asked me why we were attacked.”

The violence in Ballymen, Northern Ireland, where the Romanian business and houses are continued. A peaceful protest in support of a girl who would have been the victim of sexual assault, has turned into a wave of violence.

The protesters set fire to the Romanians' houses and affairs. Photo: Gettyimages

The second night of disorders in Ballymen turned into an explosion of racial violence. On Tuesday, the police were attacked, and entire families from the Romanian community live with fear, after their homes and business were directly targeted.

After hundreds of people gathered during the evening in the Clonavon Terrace area, the police were emergency mobilized, and the law enforcement vehicles formed barricades on the main streets. The protesters, many of whom wore caps, threw incendiary bottles, fireworks, bricks and pieces of metal in the direction of the police. In a challenge gesture, a man on a scooter for people with reduced mobility advanced to police lines, according to the Northern Ireland press.

At least two cars were burned, several windows of the houses were broken, and four houses were affected by fires. The police were forced to use non -lethal bullets and a water cannon to disperse the crowd. During the mission, 15 policemen were injured, and two vehicles of law enforcement – damaged.

Video source: amateur images

Tuesday night's disorders followed similar violence on Monday night in the same city, after a protest in support of a girl who would have been sexually assaulted by two 14 -year -old Romanian teenagers. They were accused of attempted rape, the accusations being read in court with the help of a Romanian performer.

Target of violence: the Romanian community

During the riots, several homes and goods of some Romanian families were destroyed, and the authorities intervened to safely evacuate them from their own houses. Many say now that they no longer feel safe in the city.

Video source: amateur images

A Romanian, whose house in the city of Co Corim was targeted by violent protesters Monday night, said he tried to run with his three children, after the windows of the house were broken.

“The children asked me why we are attacked. I do not want to stay here, the children are scared and I am scared”, said the woman, who is afraid of the safety of her family.

“We don't even know why this happened to us. The riots started last night. We didn't expect to get to our house. We tried to get out of the house and go to a safe place. I live here for 15 years. Everything was fine. Everything was fine. I have so many friends in Ballymena, we received a lot, He told another Romanian for the Belfastlive.

“I am lucky, because the damages here are not too serious, but my sister has three children, and I have a little girl and we are afraid. We will live for a friend and then we will try to move from here.”said the Romanian.

He says he does not understand why they became the target of these attacks.

“I like to believe that I am a man in Ballymen now, I lived here half of my life. I understand if people want to protest, but it should not be that way. We should not pay the price,” believes the man.

Video source: amateur images

“Racist violence” confirms the authorities

Deputy Chief of Police in Northern Ireland, Ryan Henderson, said the attacks were “with racist character“And he launched a call for calm.

“We work to identify those responsible for last night's disorders and we will bring them before justice. It is essential that these acts be firmly condemned by the whole community”, he said.

A 29 -year -old man was arrested during Ballymen's disorders Monday night. The man, who is about to compare before the Ballymen's Magistracy Court on Thursday, July 3, was also accused of turbulent behavior, an attempt to destroy and oppose police resistance.

The police said that during the incidents were drawn the projectiles of type AEP (with attenuated energy), being hit a violent participant. Also, law enforcement said they are prepared for additional interventions, including support from England and Wales, if the situation escalates.

A spokesman for the British prime minister qualified the events as “very worrying” and has sent support to the police and victims.

“There is no justification for these violence. Our thoughts are directed to the victims of the aggressions and to the injured policemen,” he transmitted.

New incidents and investigations in progress

In parallel with Ballymen's violence, another incident was reported in the Tobar Park area of ​​Cullybackey, where a handmade gasoline bomb on a vehicle caused a fire that extended to a home in which a woman and two children were.

Police have announced that they are investigating all these events as part of a large civil disorder investigation and racial hatred attacks.