The RUC is investigating a number of hoax parcel bombs sent to unionist and loyalist political parties in the last month. Two devices - described as "elaborate" hoax bombs - were sent in the past few days to the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and to the fringe loyalist party, the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP). Similar devices were sent in the past month to the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), the Ulster Democratic Party (UDP) and the UK Unionist party. In recent days, a letter, apparently claiming responsibility for the posting of the bombs was sent to a Belfast newspaper office. The letter, from a group calling itself the "Revolutionary Republican Strike Force" (RRSF), claims responsibility for "psycho-operations" against the UUP and the UDP.
It said the "psycho-operations" took the form of assimilated letter bombs that reached their destinations and achieved their objective. "Take this as an (sic) calculated (sic) direct action which the full capability is well understood (sic)."
It claims that the RRSF is a "Marxist-Republican organisation who believe in the total implementation of the 1916 proclamation. This which has not and isn't (sic) being done since its creation . . . our struggle is for direct accountable democracy, socialist liberation and self-determination."
A hoax bomb was delivered to Mr Sammy Wilson (DUP) on Tuesday. He said yesterday the device was "a way of reminding unionists that the bombers had not gone away".