Houses damaged as disorder breaks out after alleged sexual assault of girl

Police have appealed for calm as disorder broke out in Ballymena in Northern Ireland, after a protest over an alleged sexual assault in the town.

Masked youths could be seen throwing masonry and a number of properties were damaged with windows smashed.

At least two houses were set on fire, according to the Belfast Telegraph.

Officers blocked off Clonavon Terrace as they tried to tackle the unrest while a police car appeared to have its windows smashed.

In a statement, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said a "number of missiles have been thrown towards police with damage reported to a number of properties".

Officers are advising motorists and pedestrians to avoid the Clonavon Road area until further notice.

Ch Supt Sue Steen said: "We are urging everyone to remain calm and to act responsibly. Violence and disorder will only place people at greater risk".

Social media footage appeared to show a masked man throwing an object at police vans as a crowd looked on.

Black smoke filled the air as flames erupted close to a house that had its windows smashed.

The unrest follows a protest in the area, about 30 miles from Belfast, earlier in the evening.

Earlier, two teenage boys appeared before Coleraine Magistrates' Court accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in the County Antrim town.

A protest of hundreds of people in Ballymena happened hours after the court appearance.

The crowd of men, women and children gathered close to the town centre and marched peacefully along Larne Street and then Queen Street.

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