PORTADOWN — Northern Ireland faced a fourth night of anti-immigrant violence as police clashed with protestors in Portadown, following earlier unrest in Ballymena sparked by the alleged attempted rape of a young girl. Two teens, who required a Romanian interpreter, remain in custody.

Rioters targeted foreign nationals, forcing many to hide in their homes. Police used plastic rounds to disperse crowds and vowed to arrest and prosecute those involved in what they condemned as racially motivated criminal acts. So far, 15 people have been arrested, and four charged.

Damaged homes, deserted streets, and flags marking ethnic divides painted a tense picture in Clonavon Road—an area with a large Eastern European community.

Authorities, including UK PM Keir Starmer and Northern Ireland officials, condemned the violence. Riot police and reinforcements from England and Wales were deployed as tensions grew.

Analysts say the unrest stems from deep frustrations within the working-class loyalist community, who feel neglected and quick to protest. While some locals see the demonstrations as necessary, leaders are urging calm and an end to the violence.