The leader of the far-right British National Party has claimed he has attracted "significant" support from serving police and soldiers in Northern Ireland.
The party is planning its first electoral assault on Northern Ireland with at least five candidates runing in the North's next local government polls.
BNP leader Mr Nick Griffin said the extreme grouping has attracted significant support among serving police and soldiers. His comments came as he met strategists in east Belfast.
But it was the disclosure of plans by a party widely regarded as neo-Nazi racists to contest the 2005 council polls that provoked outrage.
One man has already been selected to represent the BNP in the north Antrim area, the party chief claimed.
Mr Griffin (44) argued that Northern Ireland could soon be overrun by immigrants realising most of the violence has ended.
"Once the physical and psychological barrier presented by the Troubles is lifted, this place is going to play catch-up double quick," he said.
"If we are around and organised it may well deter established politicians from carrying out some policy of enforced multiculturalism. In the case of Northern Ireland there's a possibility of holding the line for a bit longer."
Mainstream unionists and nationalists were appalled at the far right's expansion plans.
Mr John Dallat, an SDLP Assembly member, said: "This lot [the BNP] are the last thing the peace process over here needs." Ulster Unionist MLA and policing board member Mr Fred Cobain said: "With the BNP's record I would be horrified if anybody voted for them."
PA