Dublin: Five Northern Ireland politicians received letters containing bullets on Wednesday as an extremist Protestant campaign of death threats and street protests escalated over Belfast City Council's decision to stop flying the British flag year-round. Hours later, an off-duty police officer narrowly avoided being shot when confronted by a gunman outside his home in the mainly Protestant town of Bangor. No group claimed responsibility.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the officer was targeted by gunshots but did not return fire. He suffered a cut, but police said it wasn't clear if he was grazed by a bullet. Police later arrested two men aged 45 and 60 on suspicion of involvement.
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04:56 PM, Dec 20, 2012
