It followed a peaceful protest organised to condemn violence against women and girls.

Ms Mulholland has said: “Last night, hundreds of people gathered in Ballymena to take part in a peaceful demonstration, standing in solidarity with a family who has suffered a horrendous crime. The vast majority came to show support with dignity and respect, united in compassion and community spirit.

“The violence we saw afterwards however, perpetrated by a small number of instigators against the wishes of the protest organisers, was totally reprehensible. The videos emerging this morning and the stories we’re hearing of homes being attacked, racist chanting, and the targeting of police are truly shocking and have left the community reeling.

“Those individuals do not represent the majority of those who peacefully protested in Ballymena, and they have achieved nothing other than mindless destruction within the community and the sowing of fear and division that has no place in our society. My thoughts are with the family who organised the demonstration, anyone made victim in the attacks, and, ultimately, the young girl at the heart of this.

“I also want to thank the PSNI and the NIFRS for their work last night in what were unimaginably difficult circumstances, and reiterate calls for calm going forward before this ends in someone being seriously injured or worse.

“Now is the time for true political and community leadership as we hope to start healing as a community.”