2nd NI MP receives death threat

Sinn Fein's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said all threats against democratically elected representatives should be withdrawn immediately.

The Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Vernon Coaker has condemned the death threats against DUP politicians Jeffrey Donaldson and Edwin Poots as "appalling."

A crowd of up to 150 protesters assembled outside the office of Alliance MP Naomi Long tonight, in what appear to be peaceful protests.

Last night loyalists threw a petrol bomb into a police car whilst an officer sat inside, close to Ms Long's office in East Belfast.

Ms Long's office is being targeted as the Alliance Party voted with the nationalist parties to remove the flag from the front of Belfast's City Hall on all but designated days. The Alliance Party are a cross-community party; neither nationalist nor unionist.

Loyalist protesters across north Belfast blocked roads and stopped rush hour traffic this evening in a number of protests that affected some of the main routes out of the city centre.

A second Northern Ireland MP has received a death threat.

Jeffrey Donaldson, a DUP member for Lagan Valley, was informed of the danger to him and his family by police today.

Edwin Poots, a DUP minister in Northern Ireland's powersharing Government at Stormont has also been threatened.

Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers told the House of Commons there was nothing British about the 'thuggish, lawless and despicable" behaviour of loyalist protesters. She said:

"There is nothing remotely British about what they are doing; they are dishonouring and shaming the flag of our country with their lawless and violent activities.They discredit the cause they claim to support."

Her comments came as the First Minister of Northern Ireland Peter Robinson said two senior members of his party were issued with death threats. Marc Mallet reports from Belfast.

Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson has told ITV News that two senior members of his DUP party have received death threats.

Mr Robinson would not name the politicians but said:

"I have two of my members, two senior members of my party, who are under a death threat. The death threat doesn't just apply to them it applies to their families"