'Sinister attack' on Alliance headquarters 'tried to incite fear'

Justice Minister Naomi Long said these "reckless acts" will "never deter Alliance"

A "sinister attack" on the Alliance Party's headquarters was "deliberately trying to incite fear and intimidation," party leader Naomi Long has said.

A report of criminal damage at the headquarters is being investigated by the police, and is being treated as a "sectarian-motivated hate crime".

Graffiti was sprayed on a window, door shutters and a fence at the office on Farmley Road in Newtownabbey.

The justice minister said the party will "stand firm" in delivering for the people of Northern Ireland and that "these reckless acts will never deter Alliance".

The incident comes just weeks after a crowd protested outside Long's home.

Last month a viable explosive device was discovered outside a Sinn Féin constituency office in Newry.

Long said the recent "abhorrent incidents" directed at political representatives is "utterly unacceptable and are a direct consequence of the harmful rhetoric being spread by individuals both in the chamber and on social media".

"This serves as yet another reminder that everyone in public life must play their part in reducing the temperature of the current toxic rhetoric and demonisation," she added.

The graffiti was reported on Wednesday but police said it could have happened earlier

The graffiti was reported on Wednesday, but police said it could have happened some days earlier.

Ch Supt Stephen Murray said the PSNI has "launched a pro-active criminal investigation".

"The Police Service of Northern Ireland remains committed to doing everything we can to ensure our elected representatives and their staff can undertake their work free from harassment, intimidation or any other form of criminality."

Police appealed for anyone with information or who may have CCTV, dashcam or other video footage to contact them.