Protests in the small Northern Irish town of Ballymena spiralled into acts of anti-immigrant violence this week after two teenagers who spoke Romanian were charged with sexually assaulting a local girl.

The police said that attacks on houses and businesses in the town of Ballymena were being investigated as racially motivated, and that 15 officers had been injured.

Police say 41 officers have been injured and 13 people have been arrested after three nights of rioting across several towns.

A judge has said a strong message must be sent out that courts will deal “robustly” with those involved in violence in Ballymena. District Judge Nigel Broderick warned that young people who got involved were risking a significant custodial sentence as three teenagers faced rioting charges at the town’s magistrates’ court on Thursday.

Police came under attack as violent disorder erupted for a second night in a row in Ballymena, Northern Ireland on Tuesday, where homes and businesses were damaged

Northern Ireland police say violence in the town of Ballymena, reportedly fueled by racial tension, have left 32 officers injured.

The Sinn Féin deputy leader says no-one should have to put a sticker on their door to identify their ethnicity.

“Last night saw significant sustained disorder in Ballymena," PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said on Tuesday. "This violence was clearly racially motivated and targeted at our minority ethnic community and police.