Police investigating online threats against a councillor who is set to become Northern Ireland's first black mayor have arrested a man.
Lilian Seenoi-Barr has been selected by the SDLP to be the next first citizen of Derry City and Strabane District Council.
A 30-year-old man attended Strand Road police station in Derry and was detained on suspicion of harassment, threats to kill and improper use of a public electronic communications network.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) are treating the alleged offences as a racially motivated hate crime.
The man remains in custody on this evening.
A PSNI statement assured the public that police took reports of online threats and harassment extremely seriously.
Earlier, Ms Seenoi-Barr, originally from Kenya, said the racist abuse and death threats directed at her since her selection was announced had made her more determined to succeed in the role.
Her party leader Colum Eastwood has condemned the racist abuse and what he described as "very serious death threats".
Ms Seenoi-Barr said this morning that she wanted to focus on the many people who had reacted positively to her selection.
"My family is the one that is feeling it more than myself, I'm used to it," Ms Seenoi-Barr said of the abuse and threats.
She said: "Since I put myself forward to represent my community, since I came to this country, I've been experiencing racism but obviously it's (the recent abuse) beyond what I have been experiencing.
"The death threats have been extremely hurtful to my family and to myself too, but I'm more focused on the positives.
"I have had enormous support across the island, community organisations, politicians who have reached out and stood in solidarity.
"That is the Derry I know, the Ireland I know, and that's what I want to focus on."
She told BBC NI's Sunday Politics programme that she had not had second thoughts about taking up the post.
"Absolutely, no," she said.
"I think it has actually made me more determined because we need to be represented, we need a more inclusive and progressive society and the majority of people, particularly in my city, stand with me," she added.
Ms Seenoi-Barr said she was looking forward to "showcasing the best of our city".
"Many of the abuse... are not from Derry, although some are. We're not a perfect country and there is so much that is going on," she said.
She said her focus was on showing a "united community" adding that "we can be a united community and everyone within our city and district can be represented by anyone, regardless of the colour of their skin".
"And we have the opportunity to do that together," she added.
The process used by the SDLP to select her as mayor has also caused discontent within SDLP ranks in Derry, with two councillors resigning amid claims it was undemocratic.
Mr Eastwood has conceded the party had lessons to learn over how it communicated a new policy, introduced last year, on selecting mayoral candidates.
But he has insisted that Ms Seenoi-Barr was the "stand-out" candidate to become mayor.
Speaking today, Ms Seenoi-Barr said: "It's obviously disappointing that two of my colleagues who I have worked with the last three years since I got to council decided to resign.
"But I'm honestly focused on the way forward, I'm focused on serving my community."
