After the PSNI confirmed that the placement of the items was being investigated as a hate crime. Sandra Duffy said on Tuesday: “These acts of hate do not represent the people of this city. “The events of the last few days in the city have been a setback after a hugely positive summer for both Derry and Strabane,” he said. The real image of Derry is that of a city moving forward with events like the Maritime Festival – a city that remains focused on the future, he added. The PSNI is also investigating reports that shots were fired in the Bogside as several thousand people gathered to watch the fire break out. The blaze in Meenan Square has been met with cross-community condemnation after poppy wreaths, a police Land Rover, Union flags and a picture of the Queen blowing gum were among the items burnt. In 2020 a masked gunman opened fire near the scene of the fire. Derry City & Strabane Superintendent Willy Calderwood said: “Just before 11.20pm, there was a report of several loud bangs being heard in the area. “Around the same time, police received a report from a third party about possible gunshots heard in the area. “Inquiries are ongoing to determine exactly what happened and to confirm if any shots were fired.” Earlier, the Bishop of Derry said he was “furious” after a controversial fire was lit in Londonderry and blamed “racist politics by bigger parties” in Northern Ireland for ongoing sectarianism – saying the finger should not be pointed at young people.

                    Shut up

Children watch the bonfire in the Bogside. Photo: Garrett Hargan. Children watch the bonfire in the Bogside. Photo: Garrett Hargan. Bishop Donal McKeown was speaking on the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster program after a bonfire, an annual event in Derry’s Bogside, was lit shortly after 10.30pm on Monday night. Bishop McKeown said in Derry, people were trying to build bridges instead of walls. He said: “Sectarianism is an iceberg, just because there’s a small council that we like to condemn doesn’t mean there isn’t a huge undercurrent of other sectarian behaviour, other tensions in society that maybe the big tribal parties want to take advantage of ». Bishop McKeown was reluctant to condemn the actions of a small number of people as sectarianism in Northern Ireland “benefits” from ongoing power struggles. “It is the responsibility of all of us to build a shared future. That means being honest about where sectarianism really benefits tribalism on the part of the major parties,” he said. “It’s hard for me to say, but I’m angry this morning if we actually condemn a few young people and ignore that sectarianism is far more widespread than we care to admit.” It is a contentious time in NI politics and around the world, Bishop McKeown told the BBC, where “confrontation seems to be the order of the day and people are saying they will ‘x’ in the future if we can only win this battle – and if there’s uncertainty, if there’s tension, if there’s a gap in the middle, then somebody’s going to fill it.” And he concluded: “Everyone must participate in building a common future. Those who incite confrontation as a political weapon bear some of the blame for what happened at the fire last night and other events over the weekend.” DUP MLA Gary Middleton said it was clear the poppy wreaths placed on the bonfire were stolen and this had caused huge offence. He said the fire was “disgraceful” and the burning of flags, poppy wreaths and emblems was a “race to the bottom”. “It takes a sick and twisted mind to do that.” Responding to Bishop McKeown’s comments, he said his party “takes no satisfaction” from items being burned in bonfires. “There is clearly an element of people putting young people into this kind of behaviour. There is an obligation on all of us to show leadership in our communities. Culture can be celebrated – without sticking a needle in the eye of the other community.” The controversy surrounding the fire comes after the sale of Parachute Regiment flags on parade in Derry was described as a “set back” for community relations. Mr Middleton said the recent Apprentice Boys parade was a success. “Of course we were informed that there was a stall selling flags,” he said. “The part that infuriates, particularly unionists, is the lack of conviction of up to 10,000 people who chanted ‘up the RA’ at a weekend festival. Until this activity is condemned, we will see an escalation of these types of fire issues.” The SDLP’s Sinead McLaughlin said the PSNI was monitoring the fire. “Unfortunately we had a really difficult weekend where Parachute…