By Conor Humphries BALLYMENA, Northern Ireland (Reuters) -Violence erupted in different parts of Northern Ireland for the third successive night on Wednesday, with masked youths starting a fire in a leisure centre but unrest in the primary flashpoint of Ballymena was notably smaller in scale.

Police in Northern Ireland say 17 officers were injured during a second night of anti-immigrant violence in the town of Ballymena.

Communities in Northern Ireland are reeling after two nights of anti-immigration riots left homes destroyed and tensions high. Dozens of police officers were injured in the violence, which authorities say was racially motivated.

Homes, businesses and cars have been attacked and 32 police officers injured during violence in Ballymena and several other areas in Northern Ireland.

Violent riots have continued for the third consecutive day in Northern Ireland following a serious sexual assault case involving a teenage girl. The protests, which began after two teenage boys were accused of the attack,

Demonstrators have pelted police with bricks, bottles and fireworks and set vehicles alight in the Northern Ireland town of Ballymena.

Hundreds gathered on the streets of Ballymena in Northern Ireland Wednesday, facing police armed with riot shields and water cannon on the third night of anti-immigrant demonstrations.

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