The Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland voiced in a statement on Wednesday deep concern about the recent developments in Ballymena and other localities in Northern Ireland.
"We express our deep concern regarding the tense climate and urge our Romanian faithful in the region to act with prudence, calmness, and responsibility," reads the statement in which the Archdiocese recommends the Romanian community "to strictly follow the guidance of the local authorities, especially the police, and avoid travelling to areas where public demonstrations are taking place."
"Furthermore, considering the ongoing investigations, it is important to refrain from any speculation or personal interpretations that could harm the spirit of order and truth," the statement also reads.
On Wednesday evening, the town of Ballymena, in County Antrim, located about 50 kilometres north of Belfast, was the scene of renewed tensions, with hundreds of people taking to the streets after two days of violence targeting immigrants and clashes with law enforcement. Police used water cannons in response to attacks involving Molotov cocktails and other projectiles. However, the intensity of the violence did not reach the levels seen in previous days, and the crowd gradually dispersed.
The recent days of violence, described as racist and senseless by local authorities and officials in London, were fueled by the controversial case of two Romanian teenagers charged with the sexual assault of a young woman.
The two 14-year-old boys, who appeared in court on Monday, are accused of attempting to rape a teenage girl on June 7 in Ballymena - an accusation they deny.
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