A previously unheard of group calling itself the Revolutionary Republican Strike Force (RRSF) has admitted responsibility for sending hoax letter bombs to senior unionist politicians in Northern Ireland.
In a statement, the group said: "We claim responsibility for the psycho-operations against the OUP and UDP underhand political alliance."
It warned: "Take this as a calculated direct action which the full capability is well understood. This has been underlined by the letter bomb attack on Mr B. McCartney UK Unionist."
The RRSF, which described itself as a Marxist-Republican organisation believing in the "total implementation of the 1916 Proclamation", issued a threat to the media: "Any criticisms from the media will be interpreted as bourgeois-imperialist utterances for self and minority contrived interests".