Three months after violent riots erupted in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, the town is eerily quiet. The chaos, which included petrol bombs and attacks on migrant homes, has subsided, but the scars remain. Charred buildings and boarded-up windows are still visible in the town of about 30,000 residents, located northwest of Belfast. Signs reading "Locals Live Here" still hang in some windows, a remnant of the three nights of unrest when residents attempted to protect their homes from the violence.

Despite the calm, tensions linger. A small group of locals continues to meet regularly, determined to prevent any migrants from returning. During one of these gatherings, a producer received a printed list of addresses where members of the Roma community are believed to reside. This list highlights the ongoing unease in the town, which has seen some of the worst violence related to immigration in the UK this summer.

The protests in Ballymena were fueled by rising tensions between locals and the Roma community, which has been growing in the area over the past decade. Residents have accused Roma individuals of anti-social behavior, including drug dealing and harassment. The situation escalated dramatically when two boys, identified as Roma, were charged with the attempted rape of a local girl. Local resident Gary Lamont described the incident as the "tipping point" for the community.

On June 9, a protest in support of the alleged victim drew around 4,000 people. Initially peaceful, the protest turned volatile when police attempted to redirect the crowd. Lamont noted that the situation quickly escalated, leading to rioting that had not been seen in Ballymena for years. Historically, the town has experienced sectarian violence, but this time the conflict was not religiously motivated.

The rioters, primarily young men, targeted migrant homes, throwing rocks and petrol bombs. While some members of the Filipino community were also attacked, the Roma faced the brunt of the violence. The assistant Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland condemned the actions as "racist thuggery."

Mitko, a Roma man from Bulgaria, fled Ballymena during the riots. He described the fear his family experienced as they heard the mob outside their home. "I went numb," he recalled. "The kids started screaming and asking, 'Grandpa, what's happening?'" After receiving warnings from community representatives, he and his family left the area.

Ballymena is one of the least diverse regions in the UK, with only 3.4% of its population belonging to an ethnic minority. However, it has seen an influx of immigrants, including approximately 2,000 Filipinos and at least 1,500 Roma. Some Roma have the right to remain in the UK due to their EU citizenship, while others are believed to have entered illegally.

Local politician Sian Mulholland noted a growing hostility in the community following the alleged attempted rape. Having worked with Roma communities in Eastern Europe, she recognized the discrimination they face. During the riots, she received calls from community members seeking refuge from the violence. She worked with police to help protect those in danger, but even shelters were not safe from rioters.

As the community grapples with the aftermath of the riots, Mulholland expressed concern over the continued hostility. "I find that really, really quite worrying and quite sinister," she said, referring to the list of Roma addresses. "It makes me feel like there's a long way to go." The situation in Ballymena remains tense, with unresolved issues surrounding immigration and community relations.