Unrest has erupted in the Northern Irish town after the alleged sexual assault of a local girl by two Romanian-speaking teenagers

Disorder in Northern Ireland has continued for a third day and spread across the country as rioters hurled petrol bombs, masonry and fireworks at police.Over 30 police officers have been injured during the sustained unrest while multiple properties and vehicles have been set on fire.

Some 63 police officers have been injured in what has been called a “ week of shame ” in Northern Ireland. Disorder started in Ballymena on Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the Co Antrim town at the weekend, and continued throughout the week.

Five people were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour in Ballymena during a second night of unrest in the Northern Ireland town.

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.

In Ballymena on Wednesday, the PSNI deployed riot police for a third night in a row as hundreds gathered around the Clonavon Terrace area. At least one protester was struck by plastic baton rounds fired by police while officers also used a water cannon on the crowd.