VIDEOS: Riots erupted in peaceful town after alleged sexual assault by migrants, Orbán cabinet urges harsher rules

Riots erupted in peaceful town after alleged sexual assault by migrants (Copy)
Source: PrtScr/Youtube/The Scottish Sun

Hungary’s Ministry for European Union Affairs called on Tuesday for an end to what it described as European laws that “protect migrants who commit criminal offences.” The statement comes in response to riots in the normally quiet Northern Irish town of Ballymena, where two Romanian teenage boys have been charged with the attempted rape of a local teenage girl. What began as a peaceful demonstration by local residents – including women, men and children – escalated into riots on Monday and continued into Tuesday, with masked individuals clashing with police.

Alleged sexual assault: Police avoid migrant reference

According to the local police, two teenage boys have been charged with the attempted rape of a teenage girl in the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena. They appeared before Coleraine Magistrates’ Court on 9 June. The accused, speaking through an interpreter, confirmed their names and ages in Romanian and denied the charges. Following the hearing, a crowd of hundreds gathered for a peaceful march through the town centre.e.

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However, the situation escalated when a group of masked men broke away, reportedly vandalising property, setting vehicles on fire, clashing with police and intimidating foreign residents. According to the BBC, one particularly distressing incident involved a family with three young children reportedly barricading themselves in an attic to avoid the violence. “It is only by the grace of God, and by the actions of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the fire service last night, that we are not looking at something more serious,” said Alliance Assembly Member Sian Mulholland.

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Continued riots

Despite police appeals for calm, disturbances continued on Tuesday. Protesters reportedly threw projectiles at police, who responded with baton rounds, water cannons and riot control dogs. PSNI labelled the events as “racist thuggery, pure and simple.”

Some fringe media outlets have attempted to characterise the violence as a “freedom fight” against immigration. However, local and national authorities have consistently condemned the disorder.

Northern Ireland, as part of the United Kingdom, was an EU member for decades and is home to a diverse population. According to the BBC, the largest migrant groups in Northern Ireland come from Poland, the Republic of Ireland and Romania, with approximately 3.5% of the population identifying as part of an ethnic minority.

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Time to end European laws that shield migrants who commit crimes, says Orbán Cabinet

It is time to end the practice of European laws protecting migrants who commit criminal offences, Hungary’s Ministry for European Union Affairs said on Tuesday.

Hungary is joining a coalition of EU member states calling for a reinterpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights in the interest of national sovereignty and more effective action against illegal migration, the ministry told MTI.

The ministry stated that the current interpretation of the Convention, shaped by what it described as “failed pro-migration policies”, makes it “almost impossible” to deport illegal migrants who commit crimes — a situation it argued must be addressed.

“We cannot allow decisions by international courts to unjustifiably restrict national governments’ ability to maintain public order, public safety and social stability,” the statement read.

The ministry also referenced an open letter initiated by Italy and Denmark, which calls for a new approach to interpreting the European Convention on Human Rights. This letter has reportedly been signed by the heads of state and government of nine other EU member states, including Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. According to the statement, the signatories support sovereign decision-making, the protection of national interests, and the enforcement of secure borders.

“Hungary is joining the initiative because migration must be stopped at the border, and those who do not respect our laws and culture or who commit crimes must not be allowed entry,” the ministry said.

The statement concluded by reaffirming Hungary’s commitment to the right of every nation to defend its borders, uphold its sovereignty, and ensure the security of its citizens.

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