Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has said those involved in violence and vandalism in Ballymena will be brought to justice.
Mr Benn said: "I utterly condemn the terrible scenes of civil disorder in Ballymena, and other reported disorder, over recent days. There is no place for this kind of violence in Northern Ireland.
"The PSNI must be given the time they need to properly investigate the distressing incident concerned. There is absolutely no justification for the disgraceful attacks we have seen on PSNI officers, and on people's homes and property.
"This appalling violence and vandalism must cease immediately, and those involved will be brought to justice."
Mr Benn paid tribute to the PSNI and personnel from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, who he said, "have worked in difficult conditions over the past few days to keep people safe".
"I also express my gratitude to those community leaders who are working hard night and day to bring this disorder to an end, and to seek ways in which their area can thrive, rather than be a site of destruction," he added.
Earlier today, the Stormont powersharing Executive in Northern Ireland, which includes Sinn Féin, the DUP, Alliance Party and UUP, said those involved in disorder in Ballymena have nothing to offer society but "division and disorder" in a joint statement.
'Very nakedly racist'
SDLP Leader & South Belfast and Mid Down MP Claire Hanna said what has been happening in Ballymena in recent days was "lawlessness" and rioting involving mobs, and that far right actors have exploited the upset following on from an alleged assault on a young girl.
She said that the actions taken by those involved in the unrest were "very nakedly racist" and that racial tensions had been fanned by politicians choosing to scapegoat and explain away the violence.
Ms Hanna said there is not specific race-hate legislation in place, something that the SDLP have been calling for for a number of years.
"We're not properly collecting the data and capturing their experiences and targeting it. We do have a problem with recreational rioting. We do have a problem with negative actors very, very quickly whipping up and coordinating bad behaviour and making it even more difficult for the police to deal with," she said on RTÉ's Drivetime.
She said that the PSNI are underfunded for even basic community policing, and certainly underfunded for dealing with this sort of widespread violent disorder.
"Police don't get everything right, but there are going to be times when disorder ... it is really important.
"There do need to be consequences, because there are clearly mindless idiots that get themselves swept up in this and think it's unpunishable," she added.
Lives at risk
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Alliance Party MLA for North Antrim Sian Mulholland has said that lives are being put at risk due to the street unrest and intimidation in Ballymena.
She said that what began as a peaceful protest in response to legitimate concerns in the area has been fueled in the aftermath by people who want to jump on a bandwagon and it's now "far beyond" peaceful protest.
Ms Mulholland explained that a number of families have had to barricade themselves into their home after their house was under attack, and that multiple families had their doors kicked in, with people entering who ransacked their downstairs.
"Last night, a Filipino family had their car burnt out and were frightened their house was next. They had a young child, they barricaded themselves in an upstairs bedroom," she said.
"The violence takes away from legitimate concern from the community," she added.
