Fireworks, petrol bombs and glass bottles have been thrown at riot police as unrest in Ballymena continued for a second night.

Water cannon and plastic baton rounds were used to disperse hundreds of protesters in the Co Antrim town – with officers wearing armour and carrying shields.

Several blazes were reported in the worst-affected areas, with cars set alight and house windows smashed. Police sirens continued to blare throughout the town past midnight.

Clothes belonging to at least one protester caught fire during the disorder.

Some properties displayed signs about the nationality of the residents inside – including one saying “British household”.

Sky correspondent Connor Gillies, who is in Ballymena, says some families have had to barricade themselves into the attics of their homes as the clashes worsen.

“The talk here in this town is that it could go on for weeks yet,” he added.

The violent disorder started on Monday, following a peaceful protest supporting the family of a girl who was allegedly sexually assaulted in the area over the weekend.

Two 14-year-old boys were charged with attempted rape and were remanded in custody when they appeared at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court on Monday. The charges were read to them by a Romanian interpreter.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said on Tuesday that it had made a third arrest in connection with the alleged rape, and is continuing to urge anyone with information to come forward.

The 28-year-old man has since been unconditionally released from custody following questioning.

PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson described the scenes in Ballymena as “racist thuggery” and said the force was “actively working to identify those responsible” for the “racially motivated disorder”.

Mr Henderson said people from ethnic minorities have “felt fear” – and there will be a significant policing operation in the town in the coming days to reassure the community.

At least 15 police officers were injured on Monday.

A 29-year-old man was arrested during the unrest on Monday night and charged with riotous and disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police.

Mr Henderson said other arrests are expected following the examination of video footage.

Local MP Jim Allister said tensions over immigration had been building for some time.

Mr Henderson said there was no intelligence suggesting the disorder was orchestrated, but added that some at the protest were “clearly intent on violence” and had prepared petrol bombs and masonry to use as missiles.

Read more from Sky News:
Reeves to invest ‘billions’ at spending review
UK sanctions Israeli minister in ‘major step’

Downing Street said there was “no justification” for the violence.

Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman said: “The disorder we saw in Ballymena is very concerning.”

He added: “Obviously, the reports of sexual assault in the area are extremely distressing, but there is no justification for attacks on police officers while they continue to protect local communities.

“PSNI and the justice system must be allowed to carry out their jobs and our thoughts are with the victims of the assault as well as the police officers who were injured.”

Hilary Benn, secretary of state for Northern Ireland, said on X that the “terrible scenes of civil disorder” seen on Monday and Tuesday night “have no place in Northern Ireland”.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will set out plans in the spending review on Wednesday to invest billions of pounds across Britain, as she admits “too many people” are “yet to feel” the benefits of the government’s work so far.

In a statement in the House of Commons, the chancellor will vow to spend vast sums of money across the country to “ensure that renewal is felt in people’s everyday lives, their jobs, their communities”.

As well as confirming the budgets for each government department for the next three years, the Treasury says Ms Reeves will announce plans to invest billions in security, health, and the economy more broadly.

Tap here for the latest political news

The chancellor will set out “reforms that will guarantee towns and cities outside London and the South East can benefit from new investment”, the department said.

Ms Reeves is expected to say: “This government is renewing Britain. But I know too many people in too many parts of the country are yet to feel it.

“This government’s task – my task – and the purpose of this spending review – is to change that. To ensure that renewal is felt in people’s everyday lives, their jobs, their communities. So that people can see a doctor when they need one. Know that they are secure at work. And feel safe on their local high street.

“The priorities in this spending review are the priorities of working people. To invest in our country’s security, health and economy so working people all over our country are better off.”

Watch live coverage of the spending review on Sky News from 12pm

Ms Reeves will also formally confirm “the biggest ever local transport infrastructure investment in England’s city regions”, worth £15.6bn, as well as £86bn to “boost science and technology”, including by building the Sizewell C nuclear power station.

She will also announce the extension of the £3 cap on bus fares, Sky News understands. The cap – which Labour lifted from £2 – was due to expire at the end of this year.

And £39bn for a new Affordable Homes Programme over the next 10 years is also expected to be announced, as the government seeks to ramp up housebuilding to hit its manifesto pledge of building 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliament.

The chancellor will argue: “The choices in this spending review are possible only because of the stability I have introduced and the choices I took in the autumn.”

One of those choices included cutting the winter fuel allowance for almost all pensioners – a decision the government has now U-turned on, at a cost of £1.25bn. However, she is not expected to explain where that money will come from until the budget this autumn.

Read more:
Spending review is a massive deal for Labour and the country
Guide to the spending review
Five things you need to know about the spending review

Ms Reeves will tell MPs: “I have made my choices. In place of chaos, I choose stability. In place of decline, I choose investment. In place of retreat, I choose national renewal.

“These are my choices. These are this government’s choices. These are the British people’s choices.”

But shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said this will be “the ‘spend today, tax tomorrow’ spending review”, arguing that the government is “spending money it doesn’t have, with no credible plan to pay for it”.

He said in a statement: “Rachel Reeves talks about ‘hard choices’ – but her real choice has been to take the easy road. Spend more, borrow more, and cross her fingers. This spending review won’t be a plan for the future – it will be a dangerous gamble with Britain’s economic stability.”

He went on: “Today, we’ll hear slogans, spin and self-congratulation – but not the truth. Don’t be fooled. Behind the spin lies a dangerous economic gamble that risks the country’s financial future.”

Watch live coverage of the spending review on Sky News from 12pm

This is a major step from Britain and a number of other countries against Israel, and one that puts them at odds with Washington.

It adds to the growing ostracisation of Israel over its war in Gaza and conduct in the occupied West Bank.

Read more: UK government sanctions Israeli ministers

Bezalel Smotrich is Israel’s far-right finance minister, a Jewish settler and someone who has denied the existence of Palestinians as a people.

He has most recently said “not a grain of wheat” should be allowed to enter Gaza, saying it will be “entirely destroyed” and its people should be encouraged to leave in great numbers to go to other countries.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, the country’s far-right national security minister, was once convicted of supporting a Jewish terrorist organisation and advocated the expulsion of Palestinians from their lands.

Their critics will say their sanctioning has been a long time coming, is largely symbolic, and will achieve little.

The British government singles out Israel’s conduct in the West Bank as grounds for its action against the two men.

Extremist Jewish settlers have run rampant across the occupied territories under Benjamin Netanyahu‘s government, with 1,900 recorded acts of violence against Palestinians since January last year.

The Netanyahu government has approved a record number of new Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Under international law, all settlements on occupied land are illegal.

Politics latest: Sanctions ‘a major step’

Israel is increasingly isolated over its war in Gaza and actions on the West Bank.

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Mr Netanyahu and other senior figures over alleged war crimes.

A number of countries and observers have deemed its conduct in Gaza as genocidal.

Follow The World

Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday

Tap to follow

Israel described the sanctions as unacceptable and outrageous.

However, critics will wonder why the Israeli prime minister is not sanctioned himself for keeping two such deeply controversial figures in his government.

There is, though, a good reason for keeping them.

Without them, his fragile coalition would almost certainly fall from power. The price for that though is only increasing.