Rioters are trying to murder RUC officers battling to quell violence which has devastated part of north Belfast, Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan said tonight, branding those taking to the streets as "scum".
With 60 frontline officers injured in the disturbances he said some of the trouble was being orchestrated by loyalist paramilitaries.
Gunmen on both sides of the bitter conflict have opened fire and police have also been attacked with petrol and acid bombs in some of the worst violence in Northern Ireland this year.
Sir Ronnie declared: "My officers are being targeted for murder."
The Ardoyne area remained tense tonight as nationalists and loyalists braced themselves for more clashes following two nights of trouble.
The chaos engulfing the area comes just two weeks ahead of the annual Drumcree crisis, when the RUC has previously endured fierce loyalist attacks.
Angered by the new danger facing his officers, Sir Ronnie hit out at those keeping the violence alive.
He said: "My reaction first of all is to compare the magnificent young men and women of the RUC with the scum that attack them, people whose mission in life is to fly flags and strut about in balaclavas thinking they are either Ireland's finest or Ulster's finest.
"I think it's pathetic. I just wish everyone in Northern Ireland would wake up to that fact."
The Chief Constable declared the attacks were more orchestrated among loyalist paramilitaries.
Earlier Catholic parents said they would step up efforts to end the violence gripping north Belfast after again being blocked from taking their children to school past houses where Protestants live.
An uneasy calm returned to Ardoyne this afternoon after earlier confrontations when scores of women and children were halted by the RUC as they made their way towards Holy Cross School.
Several RUC vehicles remained stationed on the Ardoyne Road as riot police kept order after a second night of clashes that left 24 officers injured.
An RUC spokesman said 10 shots were fired at police officers, six blast bombs and 46 petrol bombs were thrown. No baton rounds were fired by the RUC or other security forces, the spokesman said.
Three arrests were made for public order offences after clashes between crowds of republicans and loyalists. Twenty-four petrol bombs were recovered.
But as some Catholic mothers complained bitterly Sinn Féin Assembly member Mr Gerry Kelly repeated calls for loyalist paramilitaries to step down. "The UDA has to withdraw this blockade," he said.
"They are on a loser because no one will support them stopping kids going to school. "Sinn Féin have been accused of winding this up but let's take the politics out of this and let the children in."
Sinn Féin Minister Mr Martin McGuinness described the situation as "ludicrous" and accused the RUC of "standing on the Ardoyne Road effectively collaborating with elements within the UDA to prevent catholic primary school children getting to school. This is absolutely disgraceful.
"I think it’s about time that the British Government in particular came into the real world and recognised that this is about justice; this is about equality; this is about rights and that these issues are far more important than the fact that we have seen in recent times people elevate the issue of arms being put beyond use above all other aspects of the agreement."
Progressive Unionist Party MLA Mr Billy Hutchinson alleged he had been injured by police last night in the area when they forced loyalists back up the street.
Mr Hutchinson said he was going to make an official complaint to the Police Ombudsman about his treatment after going to hospital. He said: "Police officers beat men to the ground with their batons and shields and I had to get up and run."
PA