An SDLP councillor who is chairman of a local policing partnership in Co Down has had bullets sent to him in the post.
Mr Eamonn O'Neill, chair of the Down District Policing Partnership, said he received the bullets, along with a sympathy card, in the post this morning.
"I am sure that those responsible for this stunt are doing it in reaction to my membership of the local District Policing Partnership," Mr O'Neill said.
Chair of the local district policing partnership Eamonn O'Neil
"It is all to easy for faceless, fascist cowards to mount this type of cheap and sinister attack, but they should realise now if they have not realised it before, that it is not easy to intimidate SDLP members out of delivering the new beginning on policing that Patten promised.
"I and others in the SDLP will not be deterred from achieving our goal of accountable and representative policing for all our community".
This is the real measure of political courage and provides much more for the community than sticking a bullet in an envelope and buying a stamp."
The SDLP deputy leader Mr Alasdair McDonnell said this "yet again" marked a threat to a dedicated and committed public servant working to provide a safer community for all of his constituents.
"To those who sent the bullets in the post we have a very clear and simple message - the SDLP will continue to be at the forefront of policing change and will continue to view your pointless bullyboy tactics with the contempt they deserve.
"What I resent most, on behalf of all the people we represent, is the way that those
responsible are prepared to put family members and even very young children in the front line, and the way that our party staff are exposed to these nasty, sick tactics."