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A 36-year-old man has been arrested in the Kilkeel area on suspicion of making threatening communications to two local councillors. Detectives from Newry, Mourne and Down CID made the arrest yesterday 7 May.
The man was detained on suspicion of three counts of threatening communications under the Online Safety Act 2023, in connection with threatening telephone calls made to two local councillors in December 2025 and February 2026.
Chief Inspector Adam Ruston said: "It is a worrying reality that elected representatives are routinely the subject of abuse, threats and other criminality. This is wholly unacceptable and we will robustly investigate any offences reported to us. We will also continue to do all we can to ensure that all of our politicians are supported and that they can undertake their role free from fear and intimidation."
The arrested man remains in custody. PSNI has confirmed that this arrest is not connected to a separate investigation by the PSNI Terrorism Investigation Unit and Local Policing into an online video appearing to show masked and armed men, which circulated on social media last year.
