This photo of the bonfire in Cregagh was widely circulated on social media between July 11 and July 12.

Hundreds of bonfires were burned in Northern Ireland last night, July 11, in the lead-up to the loyalist communities' celebration of the Twelfth of July.

More than 250 bonfires were constructed in loyalist neighborhoods across Northern Ireland for the Eleventh Night, according to RTÉ. The bonfires are traditionally ignited on the eve of the Twelfth of July, a day when members of Protestant loyal orders parade in Northern Ireland to commemorate the Battle of Boyne.

In the hours leading up to the bonfires being lit, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it had received a number of complaints relating to flags, effigies, election posters, and other emblems being placed on bonfires.

"We are gathering evidence in respect of these complaints and will review to establish whether offences have been committed," the PSNI said.

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As the PSNI confirmed it was gathering evidence, politicians from several parties took to social media to hit out at the sectarian nature of some of the bonfires.

One of perhaps the most shocking bonfires was erected in Cregagh in Co Down that featured not only election posters and Irish flags, but a sign saying "Michelle O'Neill fenian slut" and another sign saying "All taigs are targets."

(Michelle O'Neill, the vice president of Sinn Féin, is the First Minister-elect for Northern Ireland. "Taigs" is a derogatory term used for Irish Catholics.)

SDLP Belfast City Councillor Séamas de Faoite described the Cregagh bonfire's messages as "heinous threats."

Belfast City Councillor Michael Long of the Alliance party also said the Cregagh bonfire was "nothing but pure sectarian hatred."

Two unionists also hit out at the Cregagh bonfire. MLA David Brooks of the Democratic Unionist Party said there is "no place in our culture for the pathetic scrawled messages placed on the Cregagh bonfire," while Doug Beattie, head of the Ulster Unionist Party, described it as "utterly disgraceful."

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Elsewhere, SDLP representative for West Belfast Paul Doherty said it was "extremely disappointing" to see his election posters on a bonfire. 

"Leaders in the unionist community need to call these actions out and put a stop to this once and for all," he wrote.

East Derry SDLP MLA Cara Hunter shared another picture of a bonfire with election posters saying "It’s about time leaders from the unionist community stepped up and called this out for what it is - blatant sectarianism."

Sinn Féin Councillor for Lisburn and Castlereagh Gary McCleave said his children came across a picture of a bonfire that featured his election poster on social media.

"This is not culture, it is a hate crime," McCleave wrote.

Sinn Féin MLA for North Antrim Philip McGuigan denounced a bonfire in Ballymena as a "hate crime."

Gerry Carroll, a People Before Profit MLA for West Belfast, said that it was "incredibly disappointing and saddening" to see his other political representatives' election posters being burned.

"We would appeal to those who are plagued with sectarian imagery and political posters hoisted for burning, to reject such provocations and join the fightback against sectarianism," he wrote.

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