Yet more civil unrest has broken out in Northern Ireland, with images from Derry showing children throwing bricks and Molotov cocktails at rows of riot police.
The disorder began around 6pm, with roughly 30 youths gathering around Orchard Row in the city with alleged plans to attack homes in the area. Just the night before, the same group of youths injured three officers while attempting to attack other homes in Derry’s Fountain Estate.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), said in a public warning: “Police are dealing with ongoing disorder in the Nailors Row area of Derry / Londonderry this evening, Tuesday 17th June.
“A number of missiles, including masonry and petrol bombs, have been thrown towards officers. We would ask the public to avoid the area until further notice.”
After the unrest yesterday (June 16), police made two arrests, one of whom was just 13. A PSNI spokesperson said: “A second arrest has been made today, 17 June, by police in Derry/Londonderry in connection with disorder in the Nailors Row area of the city last night, 16 June.
“A 13-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour, and has since been released on bail to allow for further police enquiries to be conducted.”
This evening (June 17) at around 8pm, videos from Derry have shown riot police forced to retreat uphill after facing waves of projectiles and petrol bombs in the Orchard Row area, where the plan to attack homes was cooked up on social media on Monday night, following the first night of violence.
Lots of young people could be seen watching on as police officers and vehicles came under attack from the group of youths, many of whom were masked.
PSNI deployed extra resources in an attempt to crackdown on the planned vandalism, with Tactical Support Group officers and canine units deployed to push back against the missile-throwing youths.
This follows the days of disorder that saw homes in Ballymena go up in flames last week, after two boys were arrested and charged with an attempted sexual assault that is alleged to have taken place in the town. More than 30 people have now been arrested for their involvement in these riots, with PSNI still appealing for help identifying the other troublemakers involved.