A third night of violence is underway in Northern Ireland after "masked youths" began smashing windows and lighting fires at an "emergency rest centre" set up to house people displaced by unrest in Ballymena.

On Tuesday evening, Mid & East Antrim Borough Council said it moved to "provide emergency shelter for families in urgent need following disturbances in Ballymena" at Larne Leisure Centre.

The families have since "all been safely relocated and are no longer availing of the facility", the council added.

But on Wednesday, dramatic scenes erupted at the leisure centre - which now appears to be ablaze.

Images and videos from social media appears to show crowds of people throwing chairs and bins through the windows of the facility before riot police and fire engines arrived at the scene.

A crowd of protesters later assembled in the centre's car park as firefighters battled the flames.

'Masked youths' have been seen smashing windows and lighting fires at Larne Leisure CentreX

Flames could be seen spreading across the front of Larne Leisure Centre as the evening went onX

Local Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly said in a social media post: "Larne leisure centre has been attacked by masked thugs. Windows smashed and fires lit nearby. Larne does not need this."

And earlier today, DUP MLA Gordon Lyons said it had been "brought to my attention that a number of individuals were temporarily moved to Larne Leisure Centre in the early hours of the morning following the disturbances in Ballymena".

"As a local MLA for the area, neither I nor my DUP Council colleagues were made aware or consulted on this decision until late this afternoon," he added.

"It has now been confirmed to us by the PSNI and Council that all these individuals are in the care of the Housing Executive and have been moved out of Larne.

"Protesting is of course a legitimate right, but violence is not... I would encourage everyone to remain peaceful."

Larne Leisure Centre, as pictured in May 2023

GB News has approached the Police Service of Northern Ireland for comment.