The SDLP has called for talks between nationalist and loyalist representatives, following attacks on Catholic homes. The incidents took place in north Belfast, Ballymena, Lisburn, and Carrickfergus early yesterday.
An Orange hall was damaged in an arson attack in Carnlough, Co Antrim, and Protestant houses in Portadown, Co Armagh, were stoned. Responding to the upsurge in attacks on nationalist homes in the past week, Mr Martin Morgan, an SDLP councillor in north Belfast, said the situation was very serious.
It was time to hold talks before events escalated even further, he added.
"Hopefully, no one will die, hopefully no one will be seriously injured, but we must talk. If there are differences, misunderstandings, fears and concerns, let us sit down and talk."
Mr Morgan blamed the Ulster Defence Association for the attacks and said "hoods and thugs" seemed to be dominant within loyalism. The deputy mayor of Belfast, Mr Frank McCoubrey of the Ulster Democratic Party - the UDA's political wing - said he could not rule out the possibility that the paramilitary group was involved in the attacks in north Belfast.
Meanwhile, the occupants of three houses targeted by loyalists in Ballymena escaped injury when paper and flammable liquid were poured through letter boxes and set alight.
In the first incident at Knockeen Road, there was scorch damage to the door and carpet. Minutes later, in a similar attack, there was extensive damage to the hall of a house at Knockeen Crescent.
A couple in a house in The Rosses escaped through a side window after an attack which scorched the front door. There was extensive smoke damage to the three houses. Local SDLP representatives Mr Sean Farren and Mr Declan O'Loan, said: "Why, when we are attempting to build an atmosphere of trust and mutual growth, are these attacks still happening?
"One hopes the RUC will be able to bring those responsible to book at the earliest juncture." However, those responsible will achieve nothing and the building of peace will continue with, or without, their acquiescence."
A Sinn Fein councillor, Mr James McCarry, said: "Those who carried out these attacks clearly did not care whether or not they killed innocent people."
An Alliance councillor, Ms Jayne Dunlop, said the attacks were "completely unacceptable", and, "the sectarian motivation is sickening and cannot be tolerated in our society."
Loyalists also threw paint bombs though the windows of two houses in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim. A Catholic church under construction in the town was also targeted by arsonsists. But a pile of wood set on fire at the door burnt itself out, causing only minor scorch damage.
The RUC also suspects a sectarian motive in an assault on a man in his 50s in a loyalist housing estate in Lisburn, Co Antrim. He was attacked by a group of men wielding baseball bats and pickaxe handles.
In Newtownabbey, on the outskirts of north Belfast, two people escaped injury when flammable liquid was poured through the letter box of a flat on the Mill Road and set alight. The occupants managed to put out the blaze which scorched the door and hallway.
In Portadown, Protestant houses were stoned in King Street and Park Road. Local people blamed nationalists from the Garvaghy Road and said there was a campaign to intimidate Protestants from the area.
The incidents were condemned by local independent nationalist councillor, Mr Joe Duffy, who said: "These attacks benefit no one. All they do is widen even further already existing community divisions."
An Orange hall in Carnlough, Co Antrim, has been badly damaged in an arson attack. The roof and back of the building were destroyed in the blaze. Nationalists are understood to have been responsible. Local councillor Mr William Cunning said: "I blame one or two thugs. The people who did this do not speak for the people of Carnlough." The attack was condemned by Sinn Fein.