Bullets sent to Adams and Sinn Féin councillors

A bullet intercepted in the post on Wednesday was addressed to the home of Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, the party revealed today.

Another bullet was actually delivered to the home of west Belfast councillor Paul Maskey, Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy said.

A total of 12 envelopes, each containing a bullet, were addressed to several Sinn Féin councillors.

Staff at the Royal Mail sorting office in Mallusk, outside Belfast, raised the alarm after finding the suspicious packages.

The packages are still undergoing a scientific examination by police.

Mr Murphy said the act, in conjunction with the forklift truck attack on a bar in north Belfast on Friday by loyalist paramilitaries, showed a violent campaign was being stepped up.

He said: “Unionist politicians will no doubt continue to focus their attentions on the silent guns of the IRA while ignoring and, in some cases, justifying ongoing unionist paramilitary attacks on the nationalist community.”

“The hypocrisy of their position is breathtaking and insulting.”