A RALLY was held on Wednesday night in protest at threats against a Housing Executive contractor in north Belfast.
It is understood criminals attempted to extort money from the contractor, who suspended work on a demolition site at Long Streets following the threat.
The site was being cleared to allow new social housing to be built.
SDLP MLA Alban Maginness and Sinn Féin councillor JJ Magee were among those who attended Wednesday's candlelight protest at Upper Meadow Street and Lepper Street.
The protest was organised by Upper Long Streets Residents' Association and New Lodge Safer Streets.
Malachy McKinney, the Housing Executive's area manager for north Belfast, condemned the threat.
"We are very concerned that workers are being targeted in this manner. We cannot make progress on the site when threats are being made against our contractor," he said.
"The Housing Executive takes these matters very seriously and the safety of people who work for us is paramount. We are calling for this threat to be withdrawn immediately.
"The local community has been waiting for many years for the redevelopment of this area. We recently started demolition work at the site.
"A Housing Association is scheduled to be on site early 2016 with a first phase of 35 new family homes."
