Police make arrests in relation to threats against elected reps

POLICE in Newry have confirmed that an arrest has been made as part of an ongoing investigation into threats made against elected representatives last year.

Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Serious Crime Branch have today, Tuesday 13th January, arrested a man following searches in the Newry area.

Detective Chief Inspector Bradley said that the man was arrested under the terrorism act  

“The man, aged 46, was arrested under the Terrorism Act."

“The searches and subsequent arrest forms part of an investigation into reports of threats made to elected representatives in Newry, Mourne and Down.”

The arrest comes in the wake of a video widely circulated on social media at the end of last year   in which a group calling themselves the "new republican movement" described every politician within the Newry, Mourne and Down area as being "legitimate targets". 

However in the wake of this arrest a PSNI spokesperson iterated the commitment on the part of the organisation to investigate any and all threats made against elected representatives

Officers from both PSNI Serious Crime Branch and Local Policing in Newry, Mourne and Down are continuing to co-ordinate their efforts and work together to fully investigate threats directed towards our elected representatives, hold those responsible to account, and keep our community safe.