Loyalists were tonight blamed for orchestrating violence that has left ten police officers injured in the North.
Nationalists said they had alerted the authorities to the risk of violence two weeks ago after loyalists began circulating texts calling for a show of strength.
A 19-year-old man has been charged with assaulting a police officer, plus public order offences, while a 31-year-old man has been released on bail pending further police investigations into the violence that occurred after crowds gathered at midnight last night in Portadown.
Police said ten officers suffered minor injuries and vehicles were damaged after trouble in the Mandeville Street and West Street area.
SDLP Upper Bann MLA Dolores Kelly said: “Two weeks ago we warned that texts were circulating calling on all loyalists to gather for a show of force in the centre of the town at pub closing time.
“This was incredibly stupid, incredibly provocative and the purpose was made absolutely clear in the texts which we forwarded to the media — to intimidate nationalists and lay claim to ownership of the town centre.
“As far as I have heard the police were prepared and were able to move the mob back and generally control the situation. But the fundamental point is that a very substantial group of people are determined to deny access to the town centre for all.”
She added: “This is naked bully-boy sectarianism and it cannot just be left to the police to deal with the inevitable consequences.
The Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition questioned police tactics which it said had failed to prevent a large crowd of loyalists intent on intimidating nationalists from gathering in the town centre.
PA