Dozens of mostly young men torched homes and smashed in windows in a Northern Irish town late Wednesday, in a third night of what officials described as coordinated “racist thuggery” against the community’s ethnic minorities.

Rioters clashed with police in Ballymena, and masked groups set fire to a recreation center in Larne, where families had been given temporary shelter.

Police in Portadown have used water cannon to tackle rioters who were attacking them. Officers were targeted with petrol bombs, fireworks, masonry, bricks and bottles. The disturbance in the West Street area marked the County Armagh town's second night of unrest, but was at a lower level than seen earlier in the week.