Police say 41 officers have been injured and 13 people have been arrested after three nights of rioting across several towns.

By Ben Makori LARNE, Northern Ireland (Reuters) -Masked youths in Northern Ireland on Wednesday set fire to a leisure centre that had been sheltering migrant families, but a third night of anti-immigrant violence was smaller in scale in the primary flashpoint of Ballymena.

Rioters clashed with police in Ballymena and across County Antrim as masked groups set fire to a leisure center in Larne, where families had been temporarily settled in emergency housing.

For a second night in a row, riots rocked the town of Ballymena in Northern Ireland on Tuesday, lasting into the early hours of Wednesday morning. Protesters used petrol bombs and fireworks as they clashed with the authorities. In response, police used plastic baton rounds and a water cannon.

Six arrests - with "more to follow" - were made during the third consecutive night of disorder in Northern Ireland on Wednesday night.

Police deployed water cannons at rioters in Ballymena, Northern Ireland on Wednesday night as unrest continued for the third consecutive night. The violence erupted on Monday after a peaceful march to show support for the family of the victim of an alleged sexual assault on the weekend.

Premiership champions Linfield have confirmed their first summer signing with the arrival of Northern Ireland youth international Sean Brown from Larne.

Northern Ireland police say violence in the town of Ballymena, reportedly fueled by racial tension, have left 32 officers injured.