BALLYMENA, United Kingdom: Northern Irish police said Tuesday that 15 officers were injured in clashes after “racially motivated” attacks sparked by the arrest of two teenagers for the attempted rape of a young girl. The unrest in the town of Ballymena, some 30 miles northwest of Belfast, erupted Monday night after a vigil in a neighborhood where an alleged serious sexual assault happened on Saturday. “This violence was clearly racially motivated and targeted at our minority ethnic community and police,” Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said.

Around 2,500 people gathered in the Harryville area of Ballymena, Co Antrim, yesterday after the alleged incident, which is said to have taken place in the town on Saturday…

Police in Ballymena in Northern Ireland say a number of missiles had been thrown towards officers and damage to properties had been reported