Disorder in Northern Ireland has continued for a third day and spread across the country as rioters hurled petrol bombs, masonry and fireworks at police.Over 30 police officers have been injured during the sustained unrest while multiple properties and vehicles have been set on fire.

Mutual aid agreements are uncommon and are generally "incident based," according to the National Police Chiefs

Unrest has erupted in the Northern Irish town after the alleged sexual assault of a local girl by two Romanian-speaking teenagers

Some 63 police officers have been injured in what has been called a “ week of shame ” in Northern Ireland. Disorder started in Ballymena on Monday after an alleged sexual assault of a girl in the Co Antrim town at the weekend, and continued throughout the week.

A number of projectiles have been launched at police in Ballymena, including petrol bombs and fireworks in another night of violence in the town.

Petrol bombs, a hatchet and masonry were among items thrown at police during a third consecutive night of disorder in Ballymena. Officers responded with water cannon, dogs and plastic baton rounds in an attempt to disperse crowds in the Co Antrim town.