POLICE say they are reviewing evidence after a banner was placed on a bonfire in Meenan Square in the Bogside area of Derry last night, Sunday August 15, making threats towards police officers and a member of the public.
One of the posters referenced the murder of Catholic PSNI officer Ronan Kerr, killed when dissident republicans fitted a booby-trapped bomb to his car in Omagh, County Tyrone, in 2011.
Another made reference to PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne.
A further one made a threat to a member of the public.
Derry police commander Chief Superintendent Darrin Jones said: “The display of this material has been perceived as both offensive and distasteful.
“An evidence gathering operation was in place during this incident, and we will now review this to establish if any offences occurred.
“If any offences are detected, a full police investigation will be carried out.
“I would urge anyone with any information on this matter contact us on 101 quoting reference number 1587 of 15/08/21.
“Or submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/.”
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.
Politicians have condemned the banner on the bonfire.
UUP leader Doug Beattie described the incident as “absolutely disgraceful”.
“No bonfires should have flags or effigies or the names of murdered police officers,” he tweeted.
DUP junior minister Gary Middleton said “the clear motive behind this display is to cause further hurt and offence”.
The SDLP’s Brian Tierney, the former Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council and who sits on the council’s bonfire working group, said some of the banners burnt on Sunday night are “disappointing”.
“We need to make young people understand that burning a flag or banner is not part of your tradition and point out just how offensive that can be to the other side of the community, ” Mr Tierney told BBC Radio Foyle.
Bonfires on August 15 are traditional in some nationalist parts of Northern Ireland to mark the Catholic Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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