Larne Leisure Centre in County Antrim was badly damaged after masked youths attacked the facility last night.
The attack coincided with 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 riots.
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.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has branded the violence “racist thuggery”, and pointed to a “mob mentality” fuelled by social media.
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.
The fire spread to the interior, which was extensively damaged. Windows in the building were also smashed.
RTÉ News is reporting that some people were inside the leisure centre attending a class when the attack took place.
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.
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