A criminal investigation is under way into a video threat against politicians in the Newry, Mourne and Down council area.
The threat was made in a video posted on social media of three masked men with what appear to be handguns and a rifle in front of the Tricolour.
A statement read by one of the men said a group, calling itself 'The New Republican Movement', is frustrated with "mass immigration" and "the sexual indoctrination of children in school".
He went on to refer to all locally elected political representatives as "legitimate targets".
In September Newry, Mourne and Down District Council voted to become a designated "Council of Sanctuary", a move aimed to make the area a place of welcome and safety for refugees, and asylum seekers.
The following month a viable pipe bomb was left at a Sinn Féin office in Newry.
The PSNI has not commented on whether they believe that device and the video are linked.
In a statement, the PSNI this morning confirmed that a criminal investigation into the video is under way.
"It is completely unacceptable that anyone should face such threats and intimidation for carrying out the duties of the office to which they have been elected," said district commander Superintendent Lynne Corbett.
"We have commenced an investigation to identify those responsible."
The MP for the area, Sinn Féin's Daire Hughes, said "faceless thugs" were engaged in "an attack on democracy".
"Let me by crystal clear, these faceless thugs represent no one and they will not deter me or my party colleagues from carrying out our work, every day, representing our constituents," he said in a statement.
