THE European Commission yesterday said officials were being temporarily withdrawn from duties at Northern Ireland's ports following threats against staff making Brexit-related checks.
It comes after inspections at Larne and Belfast ports were suspended on Monday following sinister graffiti and reports of intelligence-gathering on inspectors carrying out the checks.
Senior figures from Brussels, Westminster and Stormont are today expected to discuss the situation at Northern Ireland's ports.
UK cabinet minister Michael Gove, First Minister Arlene Foster, Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill and European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic are all due to take part in a video conference.
It comes after graffiti appeared referencing tensions about the Northern Ireland Protocol and describing port staff as "targets".
There have also been a number of daubings in Belfast amid anger at the protocol.
On Monday, Mid and East Antrim Council withdrew staff from Brexit inspection duties over security fears. It said the decision was taken following an "upsurge in sinister and menacing behaviour in recent weeks".
Stormont later announced it was also suspending physical inspections of food consignments - particularly meat, fish and dairy products - at Larne and Belfast.
European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer yesterday said Brussels' officials were being temporarily withdrawn from duties at the ports.
"Obviously the security of our staff in Northern Ireland is as high a preoccupation as that of any other person working in Northern Ireland on the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement," he said.
"We have asked them not to attend their duties today and we will continue to monitor the situation and adapt accordingly."
Stormont ministers united to appeal for threats against workers conducting Brexit port checks to be lifted.
In a joint Stormont executive statement, they said: "As public servants, these staff should be allowed to do their jobs without fear and it is unacceptable and intolerable that threats have been made".
The statement added: "The threats should be lifted immediately and staff should be allowed to return to their posts and get back to their work.
"There is no place in society for intimidation and threats against anyone going to their place of work."
The UK government also said it was working with the PSNI to "better understand" the situation at Larne and Belfast.
"We will continue to work with PSNI," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said last night.
"The safety of staff is our absolute priority.
"Full documentation checks continue to take place and checks on live animals continue to take place."
Taoiseach Micheal Martin also described the threats as a "sinister" development.
"I would condemn the intimidatory tactics against workers who should, of course, be allowed and facilitated in going about their daily work," he told RTÉ.
"It's a very sinister and ugly development.
"Obviously, we will be doing everything we possibly can to assist and to defuse the situation."
Patrick Mulholland from the Nipsa union, said members were concerned.
"They first of all tend to be in shock because they suddenly find themselves under a level of threat they would not expect to be under," he said.
"These are ordinary working people.
"They then become very anxious because they do not know how this is going to work out and they do want the greatest possible level of support and assurance from their fellow workers and people in society that they have got their backs.
"That is very important."
