In a statement released on Tuesday Saoradh representative Paddy Gallagher said they did not condone attacks on members of the media.

“Saoradh does not condone attacks on the media.

“Once Saoradh representatives became aware of the situation they attempted to steer those involved away from media personnel.”

SDLP MLA and Policing Board member Mark H Durkan condemned the violence.

“I express solidarity with the journalists that were attacked, others that had property destroyed and the Creggan community at large, who once again have suffered at the hands of a small number determined to cause disruption and destruction,” he said.

Mr Durkan said the most “distressing and depressing” element was the involvement of children and young people.

“Young people and not so young people who feel left behind by the peace process who are being exploited by these groups for their own nefarious purposes,” he said.

“These people want to drag us back to the past, we can’t allow this.”

Mr Durkan commented that the attacks on journalists have come just five years after the killing of Lyra McKee in the Creggan.

“That would have been very much in people’s minds, it certainly would have been very much on the journalists’ minds.

“But it’s clearly not in the minds of these young people and it’s not in the minds of those who are sending them out to do this.”