The bonfire was lit in the Bogside on Thursday night
The bonfire had banners and flags about Soldier F – the ex-British soldier who is facing prosecution for two murders and four attempted murders on Bloody Sunday.
The PSNI said it received reports the material appeared on the bonfire in the city’s Bogside on Thursday afternoon.
The DUP said it complained about the items and asked for them to be removed.
Parachute Regiment flags were also burnt, alongside the union flag and loyalist paramilitary banners.
Foyle DUP MLA Gary Middleton said: “We need to get to a point where we’re not burning flags, banners effigies, belonging to one side or another within these communities.
“It is offensive, it is hurtful, and we need to get away from that.”
SDLP councillor Brian Tierney, who chairs Derry City and Strabane District Council’s bonfire committee, said he believes the flags may have been a reaction to events in Derry over the last week.
Last Saturday, a flute band wore Parachute Regiment insignia during the annual Apprentice Boys parade in Derry.
The Apprentice Boys have since said they recognise the potential upset that caused to nationalists.
But the Bloody Sunday Trust described the events as a setback.
Mr Tierney told BBC Radio Foyle on Friday: “We have to let what happened over the last six or seven days settle down and all come back around the table, not only around parading but also around the bonfire issue and see how we can move that forward.”
A number of homes close to the bonfire, which was lit on Thursday night, were boarded up.
Firefighters were called to the fire at about 11:10 pm.
Northern Ireland Fire Service group commander Jonathan Tate said four appliances and 16 firefighters were deployed to stop the fire spreading to nearby property.
“Obviously, this is a bonfire close to a property so we had to take action to prevent the fire spreading,” he said.
He said normal service was maintained in the rest of the city during the operation.
In a social media post, PSNI Foyle said the material on the bonfire was “perceived as offensive and distasteful”.
“We are treating this as a hate incident and will continue to gather evidence as this evening continues,” the statement added.
“Where crimes have been committed and suspects identified they will be brought before the courts.
“As always, we will continue to engage with local representatives throughout the night to ensure the safety of everyone in the city.”
Soldier F is a former member of the British Army’s Parachute Regiment and he is to be prosecuted next month at Derry’s courthouse for the murders of James Wray and William McKinney on Bloody Sunday.
Thirteen people were shot dead by the Army’s Parachute Regiment on Bloody Sunday in Derry in 1972. A 14th person later died of their injuries.
The ex-soldier also faces charges for the attempted murders of Joseph Friel, Michael Quinn, Joe Mahon and Patrick O’Donnell.
Bonfires on 15 August are traditional in some nationalist parts of Northern Ireland to mark the Catholic Feast of the Assumption.
To others, they are lit to commemorate the introduction of internment without trial of republican suspects, which was introduced by the government in 1971.
Also in Derry on Thursday night, another separately-organised ‘Festival of Fire’ took place a short distance away.
It involved a colourful pageant and fireworks display, around Free Derry Corner and on the green below the city walls.
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