An SDLP spokesman in Strabane, Co Tyrone, said yesterday he believed a dissident republican group was responsible for an arson attack on a car belonging to the daughter of local SDLP councillor Ms Ann Bell.
Detectives believe that two inflammatory devices were thrown into the car, which belongs to Ms Violet Bell. It was parked outside the family home at Knockavoe Crescent.
Ms Bell, whose mother is a member of the local District Policing Partnership, said she lost many belongings in the fire.
"I even had my purse in the car and along with other personal belongings it has been destroyed in the blaze. The car is ruined."
Meanwhile, chairman of Strabane District Council and local Assembly member Mr Eugene McMenamin linked the attack to recent comments by PSNI Chief Constable Mr Hugh Orde, who warned that dissident republicans could target policing partnership members.
"I was very disappointed by his comments, because it is things like that that plant seeds in peoples' minds. I know what the Bell family are going through because I have had two cars burned in arson attacks outside my home in recent times.
"I have no doubt this was an orchestrated attack on an SDLP councillor in Strabane. Ann Bell is a popular representative whose hard work for the community is recognised right across the board. She and other members of her family have been deeply traumatised by this attack which I have no doubt was carried out by one of the dissident republican groups in this town," he said.