Due to a sexual assault... cases of rioting and violence in Northern Ireland.

Hundreds of masked rioters attacked the police and set fire to homes and cars in the town of Ballymena in Northern Ireland on Tuesday, in the second consecutive night of chaos following a protest over an alleged sexual assault in the town. 17 police officers were injured, bringing the total number of injured to 32 people since the violence began on Monday. Two 14-year-old boys appeared in court on the same day charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl. The police are investigating the property attacks that occurred on Monday, where four houses were damaged by fire as "hate crimes" with racist motives. The Chief of the Northern Ireland Police Service, John Boutcher, stated on Wednesday that "the blind violence witnessed in Ballymena over the past two nights is extremely concerning and completely unacceptable." He added, "Acts fueled by hatred and mob rule do nothing but tear apart the fabric of our society... this behavior must stop." The police announced on Wednesday that five people have been arrested on suspicion of engaging in riotous behavior in Ballymena, located 45 kilometers from the capital, Belfast, following the arrest of one person there on Monday. The police reported that trash bins were set on fire and bottles and stones were thrown at the police following protests in the towns of Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus. The British government and local politicians also condemned the acts of violence.