THE PSNI has been urged to do "all in its power" to tackle loyalist paramilitaries following fresh threats to journalists from the UDA.
Members of the South East Antrim faction are understood to be behind planned attacks on journalists working for the Sunday World and Sunday Life newspapers, both of which are owned by Independent News & Media.
Reporters were told on Friday by the PSNI of imminent attacks by the South East Antrim UDA, including details of a planned booby-trap device to be fitted under a journalist's car.
The threats are the latest in a campaign of intimidation against the press by paramilitary groups, and follow a warning to an Irish News journalist last month that dissident republicans planned to target them in their home.
Describing the new threats as "vile", the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) hit out at those behind the intimidation, and said that the recent marking of World Press Freedom Day highlighted the importance of journalists being able to work free of intimidation.
Séamus Dooley, NUJ Ireland's assistant general secretary said: "It is the latest in a series of threats in Northern Ireland against journalists but is all the more sinister because it is a blanket threat against two newspapers, titles which have served the people of Northern Ireland fearlessly and often in the face of threats.
"This threat should be lifted immediately and unequivocally by the South East Antrim UDA. We appeal to anyone who may be in a position to influence these people to immediately intervene. While these paramilitaries are trying to intimidate journalists and their families, key workers - including journalists - are making huge sacrifices for their communities.
North Belfast MP John Finucane described the threats as "disgraceful" and urged police action against paramilitaries. Mr Finucane was told of a loyalist threat against his own life shortly after taking up the role of Belfast Lord Mayor in 2019. The MP's father, human rights lawyer Pat Finucane, was murdered by loyalists at his family home in 1989.
"Journalists play a key role in society in holding people in public office to account and shining a light on criminal gangs which are a blight on the community," the Sinn Féin MP said.
"This comes on the back of threats against elected representatives and others. There is no place for threats in our society. Everyone should be free to go out their lawful business free from threats, fear or intimidation."
Echoing the condemnation, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland Programme Director, Patrick Corrigan demanded the threat be lifted immediately, and said: "Such threats are a disgusting attempt to intimidate journalists from doing their jobs, and constitute an attack on freedom of the press in Northern Ireland. We send our solidarity to the journalists concerned."
Highlighting the dangers faced by reporters in the north, Mr Corrigan referenced the murder by loyalists of Sunday World reporter Martin O'Hagan in 2001, and the murder of Lyra McKee, who was shot dead while covering a riot by dissident republicans in Derry last year.
"Northern Ireland continues to be the most dangerous part of the UK to be a journalist," he said.
"Just last month there was a similar threat made by dissident republicans against a journalist at another Belfast newspaper. This practice of attacking the messenger must end."
