A leisure centre in Larne was attacked as a third night of violence broke out in Northern Ireland on Wednesday.

During the violence on Monday and Tuesday, the worst of which took place in Ballymena, 32 officers were injured and six people arrested.

Earlier this afternoon, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council confirmed the leisure centre had provided emergency shelter for families in urgent need following disturbances in Ballymena.

The disorder first began on Monday after a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena.

At the leisure centre, police left the area after masked young people threw objects at vehicles, but later officers in riot gear returned to the scene.

A crowd of about 50 people were watching the dozen or so individuals target the centre.

The Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) said that they attended the scene at 20:54 BST.

Two pumping appliances and a flexi officer attended, with 16 personnel in total.

NIRFS said all their resources have now left. Earlier they said there was mainly damage to the front reception of the leisure centre but extensive smoke damage.

In a statement, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said: “The families have all been safely relocated and are no longer availing of the facility.”

Local Alliance Party MLA Danny Donnelly, who was at the leisure centre on Wednesday evening, told BBC News NI that there was “absolute disorder”.

He called the group carrying out the attack “thugs” and that he was “absolutely disgusted”.

Donnelly said that “a brick went through a window when a yoga class was on” and “staff had to barricade themselves and run out the back door”.

In a social media on Wednesday, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said he had been made aware of individuals being temporarily moved to the centre.

He commented that “neither I nor my DUP Council colleagues were made aware or consulted on this decision until late this afternoon”.

In a statement following violence, Lyons condemned the damage inflicted.

He said: “The violence and disorder witnessed on our streets over recent nights serves no purpose.

“Wanton destruction such as the attack on Larne Leisure Centre is an attack on all residents who use the facility.”

Meanwhile in Ballymena, smoke bombs, fireworks, bottles and bricks have been thrown at police at a stand-off with a gathered crowd.

A row of six police land rovers advanced on the crowd, with officers in full riot gear pushing a number of individuals back.

Police have also deployed dogs and water cannons have arrived at the scene.

Closer to Clonavon Terrace, the scene of most of the trouble during the first and second night of disorder, the windows of a residential property were smashed.

The crashing of glass prompted a man in the crowd to shout: “Them’s not foreigners.”

This marks the third night of disorder in the town.

Earlier on Wednesday it was confirmed that a significant number of extra police officers were being deployed into areas of affected.

Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the violence was “racist thuggery targeted at ethnic minorities and police officers”.

The PSNI said fires are currently being set within Cloughfern Roundabout in Newtownabbey.

“We are appealing to parents and guardians to check in on your young folk and see where they are. Youths are actively engaged in this criminal behaviour,” they said.

Meanwhile, Translink said there will be “severe delays and disruption” to trains on the Londonderry line because of “civil unrest” in Coleraine and “possible damage to rail tracks”.

Some buses have also been suspended in Coleraine.

ACC Henderson said all footage of incidents was being reviewed and prosecutions would come.

Police Scotland has agreed to a request to send officers, after police in Northern Ireland requested extra support under mutual aid arrangements.

The deployment will involve an undisclosed number of public order officers trained to police civil unrest. The PSNI said they have requested 80 officers in Great Britain.

“We’re taking steps to increase available resources and are surging a significant number of extra officers, vehicles and equipment to those areas where the rioting is taking place,” he said.

He said this would impact communities as “vital resources” are being taken away from other areas.

“It’s hugely important that people realise there are consequences for this.”

The first protest was organised hours after two teenage boys appeared before Coleraine Magistrates’ Court.

They spoke through an interpreter in Romanian to confirm their names and ages. Their solicitor said they would be denying the charges.

ACC Henderson said many people woke up on Wednesday “feeling genuine fear for their lives and their livelihoods”.

“This violence only serves to undermine the criminal investigation and cause further distress and turmoil to a young victim and her family,” he said.

“This violence threatens to derail the very pursuit of justice it claims to challenge.”

Police said there have also been sporadic incidents of disorder in Carrickfergus, north Belfast and Newtownabbey, where one man was arrested.

One man, 29, has been charged with riotous behaviour, disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police after Monday’s violence.

ACC Henderson said “the power of social media” is “galvanising” some of the violent behaviour.

“We have seen a number of calls over social media for protest activity this evening at various places within Northern Ireland,” he said.

ACC Henderson also said that it is “absolutely of note” that petrol bombs and masonry were thrown at police during Monday and Tuesday night.

“There were people who were intent on violence right from the off, so that says to me that there was pre-planning involved from those who wanted to attack us.”

Some homes have begun displaying stickers outlining the residents’ nationalities. Signs which read “British household” and “Filipino lives here” could be seen on some doors.

Businesses and homes were attacked and damaged and a number of vehicles were also set on fire in the area.

Mother-of-two Mika Kolev, who lives and works in Ballymena, said she was now fleeing her home with her family and is considering moving back to Bulgaria after her house was damaged in Tuesday’s disorder.

“We know what’s going to happen so it’s not possible to wait and see what’s going to happen,” she said.

“I have to save my children, I have to save them.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he “utterly condemns” the violence.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill said what was happening in Ballymena was “pure racism, there’s no other way to dress it up”.

Meanwhile, the Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the violence was “serving no purpose whatsoever” and was only damaging communities.

The PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher described the disorder as “mindless violence”.