THE PSNI say a bomb was thrown at a police patrol near the scene of a controversial bonfire overnight in Derry.
A number of homes were evacuated at Charlotte Street during the security alert which ended at 03:13 BST.
The “viable pipe bomb-type device” device was thrown at the Lecky Road flyover, police said.
The fire reached 20ft (6m) in height partially blocking the road.
Union flags and Sinn Féin election posters were burned on the fire.
Said Derry police boss Supt Mark McEwan: “We are investigating all offences committed at the bonfire in the Bogside last night including a serious incident where a viable pipe-bomb type device was thrown at a police patrol.”
A last-minute attempt to move the structure from the middle of the road failed on Monday night.
Sinn Féin MLA Raymond McCartney said he believed “dissident republicans” were responsible for the bonfire and the security alert.
“I don’t think the focus should be on the election posters,” said Mr McCartney. “There was election posters of all other parties ourselves included.
“This isn’t an act of defiance, this is a group of young people aided and abetted by other dissident elements in this city.”
Independent councillor Gary Donnelly said the young people in the area have been forgotten about.
“People need to sit around the table and have dialogue, there seems to be a complete disconnect with the young people in that area,” he said.
“All week they have been bombarded by a relentless demonization and criminalisation policy by some elected representatives.
“They will no doubt say that two or three thousand people at that bonfire in the Bogside would be support.”
A number of community festivals were held in Creggan, Shantallow and the Bogside to provide an alternative to the annual bonfire.
Bonfires are traditionally set alight on 15 August in some nationalist areas of Derry to mark the Catholic feast day of the Assumption.
The date commemorates the Virgin Mary’s death and assumption into heaven.
However, nationalist and republican politicians have criticised the practice, saying it causes disruption to local residents.
SDLP councillor Joe Boyle said: “We need to find different ways of celebrating culture.
“If the police or any other statutory agency had attempted to remove the bonfire we may well actually have been looking at something a hell of a lot worse than we’re looking at currently,” he added.
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