The leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland was sent bullets in the post before the papal visit last year, it was reported today.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien received the bullets at his home in Edinburgh, the Daily Record newspaper said. He told the Record the bullets were "a horrific incitement to violence and deeply regrettable".
Police said they could not comment on the allegations, which came after it emerged that Celtic manager Neil Lennon was twice sent a parcel bomb.
Two more prominent Celtic fans, Paul McBride QC and former Labour MSP Trish Godman, were also targeted.
The club, formed in 1888 by Irish Catholics, draws its support largely, but not exclusively, from Catholics.
Police said the two packages sent to Mr Lennon, and others to lawyer Mr McBride and Ms Godman, were “designed to cause real harm to the person who opened them”.
Mr Lennon (39) has endured threats and abuse throughout his career and was forced to retire from representing Northern Ireland in international football after receiving death threats from a paramilitary group.
He was the victim of a street attack in the west end of Glasgow in 2008 and earlier this year also received a package containing bullets.
Celtic players Niall McGinn and Paddy McCourt, both from Northern Ireland, were also sent bullets.
Mr McBride is one of Scotland’s most-recognised QCs and is a well-known Celtic fan.
Last week he accused the Scottish Football Association (SFA) of bias in favour of Rangers when assistant manager Ally McCoist and players Madjid Bougherra and El-Hadji Diouf all escaped bans for misconduct during an Old Firm Scottish Cup clash at Parkhead.
Ms Godman, who has stepped down as an MSP, was deputy presiding officer of the last session of the Scottish Parliament as well as Labour MSP for West Renfrewshire. On her final day as an MSP, she was pictured wearing a Celtic football top at Holyrood.
The Catholic Church in Scotland was unavailable for comment.
PA