Three youths were arrested by police following a stand-off between groups of young people at a north Belfast interface.
Police said three boys aged 11, 13 and 14 were detained on suspicion of a number of offences, including riotous behaviour and attempted criminal damage.
It came after officers were called to a report of anti-social behaviour in the Alliance Avenue area on Monday evening.
SDLP councillor Paul McCusker last night said it was "worrying to see an increase in sectarian incidents over the past number of weeks" in the north of the city.
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PSNI Inspector David McBride said: "Police received a report just before 5.40pm and attended to find a 'stand-off' between groups of youths at the interface of the Alliance Avenue and Ardoyne Road.
"The two groups were shouting and gesturing towards one another.
"Some of the individuals threw bricks, from a nearby wall, at police vehicles."
He said three males were arrested by police and have "since been referred to the Youth Justice System".
It comes after a spate of sectarian incidents in north Belfast in recent weeks with police attending disturbances last week in the Waterworks and Westland estate area.
Mr McBride said police "continue to patrol and respond to regular reports of groups of young people congregating in a number of locations, with some becoming involved in criminal and anti-social behaviour".
"Young people who choose to engage in anti-social behaviour must understand it is unacceptable and must stop. People have a right to live in peace and to feel safe in their communities," he said.
Mr McCusker said: "It's been worrying to see an increase in sectarian incidents over the past number of weeks, we now need to call for calm in north Belfast and help put a stop to these incidents as all it does is increase fear, creates more divide and now three young people will have a criminal record.
"My message to those involved is, this will achieve nothing, think about the impact this has on your community, your future is more important and you may have more in common with those who you want to fight with than you think."
