Northern Ireland Plagued by "Week of Shame" - 63 Police Officers Injured, Homes Attacked

A week-long wave of disorder in Northern Ireland has seen 63 police officers injured and numerous homes targeted. The unrest began in Ballymena on Monday following an alleged sexual assault, with incidents also reported in Portadown, Larne, Coleraine, and Newtownards. A woman and four children escaped an arson attack on a house in Coleraine, and a leisure center in Larne was burned down.

Key Takeaways:

63 police officers have been injured in the week-long disorder, with 22 injured in overnight attacks in Portadown.
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has provided assistance to about 50 households affected by the violence.
Disorder has been reported in multiple towns, including Portadown, Larne, Coleraine, and Newtownards.
A house fire in Coleraine is being treated as a deliberate and racially motivated hate crime, and a small fire at the Manse Road roundabout in Newtownabbey is under investigation.
Anti-immigration hate graffiti is being investigated in Newtownards.
Police Federation chairman Liam Kelly has described the situation as a "week of shame" and called for an end to the violence.
Kelly has also appealed for calm and asked parents to speak with their children and encourage them to be civically responsible.

Statistics:

63 police officers have been injured in the week-long disorder.
22 police officers were injured in overnight attacks in Portadown.
50 households have received assistance from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
1 leisure center (Larne Leisure Centre) was burned down.
1 house (in Coleraine) was attacked with arson, resulting in the evacuation of a family with three children.

Sources:

The Police Federation in Northern Ireland, statement by Ferederation chairman Liam Kelly (no date provided)
The Irish Sun
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (no date provided)
The Police Federation in Northern Ireland, statement by Ferederation chairman Liam Kelly (no date provided)