Dissident republican terrorists have been plotting to assassinate Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, it was claimed last night.
The new threat attempt to murder the west Belfast MP was aborted because of his own security arrangements, according to a report.
Police went to his home in the last few days to alert him that a possible shooting was being planned.
Mr Adams claimed the threat was because of internal party talks over whether to take the historic step of publicly endorsing Northern Ireland's police service for the first time.
It followed earlier warnings to other senior Sinn Féin representatives Gerry Kelly and Martin McGuinness that they too were being targeted by rogue republicans.
Mr Adams said: "Some weeks ago the Sinn Féin leadership expressed concern about the coming together of a tiny number of disaffected former IRA people and elements of various micro-groups including some members of the INLA (Irish National Liberation Army).
"This has become more serious as a debate within Sinn Féin has opened up on the issue of ending political policing. We believe that there is now an active threat to senior members of the Sinn Féin leadership and we are taking this matter seriously," he said.
PA