The first protest on Monday evening was organised hours after two 14-year-old boys appeared before Coleraine Magistrates' Court accused of a serious sexual assault on a teenage girl.

Both boys are charged with attempted oral rape and both deny the charges.

They confirmed their names and ages through a Romanian interpreter at Coleraine Magistrates' Court.

That evening hundreds of people gathered in Ballymena at a peaceful protest that was related to the ongoing court case.

A short time later, however, violence broke out after people wearing masks began to build barricades and attack properties on Clonavon Terrace.

Image source, Pacemaker

There were similar scenes in the County Antrim town last night.

PSNI officers fired baton rounds and used a water cannon to disperse protesters as cars were set on fire and the windows of several houses were smashed.

Five people were arrested and a further 17 officers were injured, bringing the total to 32.

Police said they also dealt with sporadic incidents of disorder in Newtownabbey, where a man was arrested, and Carrickfergus in County Antrim and north Belfast.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is due to give an update on the ongoing disorder in Ballymena and other areas of Northern Ireland.

It follows two nights of violent scenes where petrol bombs, bricks and fireworks were thrown – injuring 32 police officers.

The disorder began on Monday after a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in the County Antrim market town, which is about 30 miles outside of Belfast.

ACC Ryan Henderson is about to deliver a press conference at PSNI HQ in Belfast.