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The New IRA is planning an under car bomb attack on a Sinn F\u00e9in member, the party\u2019s vice president has warned.<\/p>\nThe New IRA is planning an under car bomb attack on a Sinn F\u00e9in member, the party\u2019s vice president has warned.<\/p>\n
Michelle O\u2019Neill said she had been advised of the threat by police in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
Last week, Ms O\u2019Neill, Stormont\u2019s deputy first minister, said officers had warned that dissident republicans were planning to attack her and the party\u2019s policing spokesman Gerry Kelly.<\/p>\n
It came in response to the pair\u2019s attendance at a Police Service of Northern Ireland recruitment event.<\/p>\n
On Monday night, Ms O\u2019Neill indicated that the plot had widened to encompass all Sinn F\u00e9in members. She said police had advised that the New IRA was the dissident grouping behind the plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cFollowing the recent launch of a PSNI recruitment campaign, police have told Sinn F\u00e9in tonight that persons aligned with the dissident Republican group, the so-called New IRA, plan to attack a Sinn F\u00e9in member using an under car explosive device,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been told this planned attack could happen anywhere in the north.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is literally a threat against thousands of Sinn F\u00e9in members and their families in the north.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not the first time this particular group have made threats against Sinn F\u00e9in members and the PSNI is taking this threat very seriously.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am urging the party\u2019s members to be very vigilant at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms O\u2019Neill added: \u201cThis latest threat shows once again that these groups are in conflict with their own community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis dangerous and disgraceful threat comes at a time when the debate on Irish unity is center stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the response of these so-called republicans is to plan attacks on Sinn F\u00e9in members.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me be very clear. Sinn F\u00e9in will not be deterred from pursuing our objective of a united Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will continue to represent the people in government and in communities the length and breadth of Ireland, driving the agenda for change which has been backed by more than 700,000 voters across this island.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis armed group must withdraw its threat immediately. There is no room for the existence of armed groups. They should disband.\u201d<\/p>\n