Reports of 'gunman' threatening unionist voters at Northern Ireland polling station
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Reports of 'gunman' threatening unionist voters at Northern Ireland polling station

THE PSNI have confirmed they received reports that a man with a gun threatened unionists at a polling station in Co. Tyrone.

The polls opened at 7am this morning as voters in the constituency of West Tyrone took to the ballot box to select a new MP.

The by-election was called after Sinn Fein MP Barry McElduff resigned over the backlash he received for posing with a loaf of Kingsmill bread on the anniversary of the Kingsmill Massacre in January.

Ulster Unionist Party candidate Chris Smyth said that police informed him a man with what appeared to be a handgun was threatening unionists at a polling station on Crockanboy Road, Greencastle.

The man allegedly walked into the building with the firearm and said to those present that he would shoot any unionists amongst them, before fleeing the scene.

"I am shocked and appalled that something like this could happen," Cllr Smyth told the Belfast Telegraph.

“I am informed there were no police present at the time. I arrived just ten minutes later and there is now a strong, armed police presence at the scene.

“It is sad that we continue to have people in our society who want to terrorise and intimidate you just because of your political opinion. These people need removed from society. I for one will not be intimidated by them.”

In a statement, the PSNI said: "It was reported that the man may have been carrying a firearm.

"Efforts are continuing to locate him and enquiries into the matter are ongoing."

It's understood that electoral officers have requested additional police support at the polling station.

The polls close at 10pm tonight with a result expected early on Friday morning.

Sinn Fein's Órfhlaith Begley, SDLP's Daniel McCrossan, DUP's Thomas Buchanan, the Alliance Party's Stephen Donnelly and the UUP's Chris Smyth are all in the running to become West Tyrone's new MP.