A Romanian in Ballymena has claimed he has “lost everything” after he was wrongly arrested for the attempted rape of a schoolgirl. He spoke after riots broke out in the Northern Ireland town following the appearance in court of two 14-year-old boys charged with attempted rape and who required a Romanian interpreter.

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.

Police Scotland has agreed to send officers to Northern Ireland after two nights of disorder in Ballymena. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) asked for extra support under mutual aid arrangements following violent scenes in the County Antrim town.

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

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.

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.

Petrol bombs, a hatchet and masonry were among items thrown at police during a third consecutive night of disorder in Ballymena. Officers responded with water cannon, dogs and plastic baton rounds in an attempt to disperse crowds in the Co Antrim town.