The National Union of Journalists has condemned as ‘outrageous’ paramilitary death threats against a leading journalist in Northern Ireland.
The threat, accompanied by bullets, bearing the name, address and car registration number of Robin Livingstone, the editor of Andersonstown News, was sent to the offices of UTV.
Similar threats were issued against five Sinn Féin members.
The threat, claiming to be from the Red Hand Defenders, follows a number of recent threats against media targets.
NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear said: ‘We condemn utterly such threats.
'It is vital the PSNI act to protect those under threat and that politicians from all parties deliver a clear message in defence of media freedom and the right of journalists to work free from such threats.
'News organisations themselves must not only condemn these threats but show their commitment to speaking out against these outrageous attempts to silence and censor Northern Ireland's media’.
Sinn Féin’s West Belfast Assembly member Paul Maskey said: 'Following the attack on my colleague Michelle Gildernew's office in Lisnaskea last week, this news is sinister, disturbing and not in isolation.'
The threat names Sinn Féin officials including senior press officer Richard McAuley.
Mr McAuley, who is accompanying the Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams at a meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, said he was alarmed by the threat.
'Obviously it is a matter of concern,' he said.
'My family and I are taking this seriously.'
The PSNI said it did not discuss the security of individuals but they confirmed a package with a number of suspect items had been received by a media outlet this morning.
