The claim came from within the nationalist community, as a tit-for-tat campaign of sectarian vandalism between nationalist and loyalist youths continues to escalate.

Shortly after midnight on Wednesday , three petrol bombs were thrown into the Fountain estate from the direction of Upper Bennett Street.

Police have confirmed they are investigating a sectarian motive. It is the fourth such incident in a week. No one was injured and the devices fell short of their targets.

Prior to this, incidents, perpetrated by youths from both sides of the divide, started around the Eleventh Night and August 15 bonfires, and centred on raids deep inside opposing territory.

An attack took place last Thursday in the heart of Nelson Drive, when a UVF memorial was damaged. It is believed republican youths from the cityside travelled by car to vandalize the memorial.

Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) representative Leslie Mitchell registered his community's disgust at the "desecration".

"This is nothing more than sectarian hatred and has heightened tensions in the area. It will only prove detrimental to community relations as it is an attack on our heritage and culture," he said.

Mr Mitchell stated those involved did not realise that attacks of this nature could lead to violence on both sides. Speaking to the Sentinel he said: "We will do all we can to calm these incidents. The memorial is now being restored and you can rest assured that if it is attacked 1,000 times it will be restored. We will not be deterred from remembering the dead."

The Sentinel also received reports that masked men were seen at the entrances to some Waterside estates in the wake of the attack in Nelson Drive.

Sources on the West Bank suggest the attack was in retaliation for an attack on a H-Block memorial in the area in the build up to the Eleventh Night.
The sources, who do not wish to be named, claim that youths from the Fountain smashed the 'Lark of Freedom' symbol from the top of the monument and are still holding it. The sources also said the same people stole a tricolour from the site, later burned on top of the Eleventh Night bonfire in the estate. They claimed the fittings on the flag seen on top of the bonfire meant it could only have been taken from the Bogside memorial.
Sinn Fein Councillor Maeve McLaughlin also stated it was her party's belief this was the case.
The claims however, were strongly denied by people within the Fountain. Youth Worker, Jeanette Warke said: "I'd love to know where that information came from because I've heard nothing like it - that bird has not turned up in the Fountain."
It is also understood that youths on both sides are highlighting their 'conquests' as sectarian taunts on internet chat sites.
In further incidents, Fountain resident William Jackson said his home was hit by paintbombs on Sunday night. And, in the early hours of Sunday morning two petrol bombs were thrown from the Fountain into Bennett Street.
The Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG) told the Sentinel: "We are discouraged that republicans have sought to increase tensions by stealing flags-not only from the streets, but also from private houses. We have had reports from residents throughout the Waterside who have had flags stolen from their properties.
"Republicans intent on stirring tensions by stealing our flags serve only to increase the resolve of our people to fly the legitimate flags of Northern Ireland."
At the time of going to press, the PSNI confirmed that a petrol bomb had been thrown into the Fountain in the early hours of Tuesday morning.