PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has warned the "bigots and racists" that have been behind three nights of disorder across Northern Ireland that his officers will be coming after them.
Mr Boutcher said a young girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena at the weekend - an incident that triggered protests that descended into violence in the Co Antrim town - had been "further traumatised" by the rioting.
Mr Boutcher described the rioting as "wanton, disgraceful criminal behaviour that is absolutely race motivated".
The PSNI said this evening that a 30-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman had been arrested on suspicion of rioting in Ballymena.
The arrests brought to 15 the number of people arrested in connection with the ongoing disorder.
"We will come after you. We will arrest you. We will prosecute you successfully. It is not in any way a way for a civilised society to behave and it must stop now," Mr Boutcher said.
Watch: PSNI Chief Constable says police force coming after 'bigots and racists'
He added that the PSNI is working on returning an individual to Northern Ireland who is a suspect in the investigation of an alleged sexual assault in Ballymena.
The PSNI chief said two teenagers have already been charged and remain in custody in connection with the incident.
"We have identified a third suspect who is currently out of the jurisdiction, but we will be bringing him back into the jurisdiction."
Mr Boutcher, who met with the girl's family, spoke to media following a meeting with the Northern Ireland Policing Board.
"This girl’s family and this girl want it to end. Our communities want it to end. We need it to end. So please don’t come out on the streets tonight.
"If you do, we will police you and we will deal with you through the criminal justice system."
He added: "And I want to send a very clear message to all our diverse communities: we stand absolutely shoulder to shoulder with you. We are here to protect you. We are your police service, and these bigots and racists will not win the day. This will be policed properly."
"We will deal with this - and we all know that in this room - but let's call an end to it now."
A major police operation was under way this evening in Portadown, Co Armagh.
A rally organised on social media has been well attended despite the weather.
Protesters have since dispersed in the town centre and returned towards homes on the edge of town.
Some were prevented from passing police lines.
There was some sporadic trouble and warnings were issued about the use of police force.
Last night, Larne Leisure Centre in Co Antrim was badly damaged after masked youths attacked the facility.
The attack coincided with continued public disorder in the nearby town of Ballymena.
Petrol bombs, a hatchet and masonry were among items thrown at police during a third consecutive night of disorder.
The PSNI deployed riot police in Ballymena as a significant crowd gathered around the Clonavon Terrace area.
Two ethnic minority families who had been forced from their homes in Ballymena the previous evening had been offered temporary overnight shelter at the leisure centre, including a pregnant woman.
They had left during the day yesterday, but word went around that other affected families might be accommodated at the centre.
A protest had been planned for yesterday evening but before it could proceed the building was attacked.
Police officers at the scene were hit with bricks by some members of a 40-strong crowd before masked youths pulled bins to the entrance of the council owned building and set them alight.
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The fire spread to the interior, which was extensively damaged. Windows in the building were also smashed.
It is understood some people were inside the leisure centre attending a class when the attack took place.
Read more:
Leisure centre in Larne set alight amid further disorder
Behind the Story: Ballymena riots and the online forces at play
Watch: Hatchet thrown at police during third night of disorder in NI
The PSNI has condemned last night's violence as "completely unacceptable" and said nine of its officers were injured.
Two men in their 20s and one in his 30s, along with two teenagers, were arrested on suspicion of riotous behaviour and other offences in connection with the disorder.
A teenager was also arrested in the Newtownabbey area in connection with disorder in the Station Road area.
Three people have been charged to court in connection with disorder on Tuesday
An 18-year-old man and two teenagers, aged 15 and 17, are due to appear before Ballymena Magistrates Court later today.
Two other teenage boys have been released on bail.
Watch: Fire burns at leisure centre in Larne during ongoing disorder
Around 80 police officers are on their way to Northern Ireland from Scotland and other UK forces under a mutual aid scheme, which allows the Chief Constable to bring in additional police resources.
They are due to arrive in the coming days.
The local council, which controls Larne Leisure Centre and also covers the town of Ballymena, condemned the violence.
"The thuggish behaviour and disorder that we have witnessed over the past two nights in Ballymena has brought fear and distress to so many people and blighted our local community," it said in a statement.
"It needs to stop now. These are not protests, they are a disguise for violence and vandalism and will not be tolerated."
At least one protester in the Clonavon Terrace area was struck by plastic baton rounds fired by police while officers also used a water cannon on the crowd.
Officers also used dog units and drones in their response to the gathering.
Riot police with shields advanced on the crowd to disperse them down Bridge Street onto other roadways.
They came under sustained attack as those participating in disorder hurled petrol bombs, masonry and fireworks at police vehicles and officers standing nearby.
Watch: Disorder for a third night in Northern Ireland
Rioters smashed the windows of a house on North Street and set multiple fires on streets in the surrounding area.
The disorder and stand-off with police continued past midnight.
The PSNI have also noted scenes of disorder in Belfast, Lisburn, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey earlier in the week, as businesses, homes and cars were attacked and damaged.
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said all those who had been staying at the leisure centre are in the care of the Housing Executive and have been moved out of Larne.
SLDP MLA Matthew O'Toole, the leader of the opposition in the Northern Ireland Assembly, said he would refer Mr Lyons to the standards commission following the fire while First Minister Michelle O'Neill called on Mr Lyons to resign.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he "utterly condemns" the violence.
Stormont ministers have also made an urgent appeal for calm and said the justice process had to be allowed to take its course.
First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly appeared together yesterday to voice their condemnation.
Ms O'Neill told reporters in Belfast: "It's pure racism, there is no other way to dress it up."
Ms Little-Pengelly described the scenes in Ballymena as "unacceptable thuggery".
With the protests focused in predominantly loyalist areas in Ballymena, Ms O'Neill said she did not believe it would be helpful for her to visit in the current context.
Ms Little-Pengelly met residents in the town yesterday and said the local community are in fear and wanted the violence to stop.
"The key message here today is around that violence, and that the violence needs to stop, that's what the community wants to put across, and that's why I'm here to send that very clear and united message from right throughout the community and local residents for that to stop," she said.
The violence began around Clonavon Terrace on Monday night following an earlier peaceful protest which was organised in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the area.
Two teenage boys have been charged.
Additional reporting by PA
