Senior members of Sinn Féin in Northern Ireland have been warned of threats against their lives after attending a PSNI recruitment event.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Policing Board member Gerry Kelly became the party's first representatives to attend such an event last week.
Sinn Féin has been informed by the PSNI that dissident republicans are now planning attacks against them.
Ms O'Neill, the deputy leader of the party, has condemned the threats and said she will not be intimated.
I have been told that dissident republicans are planning attacks on myself and Gerry Kelly
This threat comes as over 500,000 people voted Sinn Féin
These people have no politics or strategy
Sinn Féin will not be deterred. We will continue to pursue our objective of Irish unity pic.twitter.com/L7tqBcf0n9
— Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) February 11, 2020
In a statement, she said she was informed by the police that dissident republicans are planning attacks against her and Mr Kelly.
She said the threats come as the "debate on Irish unity is centre stage" following Sinn Féin's success in the recent General Election.
Ms O'Neill said: “These people have no politics, no strategy and nothing to offer. They are at war with their community and are now threatening political representatives who serve the people.
Referencing her attendance at the PSNI recruitment event, she added: “I will not be deterred from carrying out my work as a representative of the people and as Joint Head of Government.
