Two men arrested as part of an investigation into threats made against elected representatives in Newry, Mourne and Down have been released following questioning, police have confirmed.
The men, aged 46 and 36, were arrested under the Terrorism Act after a series of searches were carried out in the south Armagh area on Tuesday, January 13, by detectives from the PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch.
Police have said that both men have now been released, however the investigation remains ongoing.
The arrests followed reported threats made against councillors and MLAs in the Newry, Mourne and Down council area, which prompted a major police operation earlier this week.
In an earlier update, Detective Chief Inspector Bradley said the searches and arrests formed part of a wider investigation into threats directed at elected representatives, adding that officers from Serious Crime Branch and local policing teams were working closely together to hold those responsible to account and keep the community safe.
The threats have been linked to a previously unheard-of group calling itself the “New Republican Movement”.
In December 2025, a video circulated on social media showing three armed and masked men standing in front of an Irish flag. In the footage, the group claimed that local councillors and Assembly members were considered targets due to policies relating to immigration.
That same month, a failed pipe bomb attack was carried out at a Sinn Féin office on Monaghan Street in Newry.
Police have reiterated that enquiries are continuing into the matter.
