Postal workers have intercepted a package addressed to Premier Ewart Brown containing a bullet and a threatening letter.

Security has been stepped up around Dr. Brown as a result of the discovery at the airport sorting office yesterday.

News of “a threat leveled at the Premier” was revealed at a 12 p.m press conference today by Minister of Public Safety David Burch. He said the package originated from within Bermuda.

Although this newspaper understands from a well-placed source that the package contained a bullet and letter, the Minister said he was not at liberty to confirm or deny this.

“The Police have sufficient grounds to take that threat seriously and (believe) that a criminal offence has been committed. A Police investigation has been launched,” he said.

“As a result, the Commissioner of Police has reviewed the current level of security afforded to the Premier and has instructed that additional measures be taken. As the investigation progresses and as is normal practice, that level of security will remain under review. It would be inappropriate to comment further on the specific security details.

“The security of the leader of the Opposition also remains under constant Police review.

“May I take this opportunity to state that we as Bermudians do not operate in this fashion. We expect the election to be hard-fought, but our tradition has always been to peacefully accept the result of our exercise in democracy.

“I urge supporters on all sides to refrain from such behaviour. Anyone caught carrying out such activity will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Neither he, nor Commissioner George Jackson, would comment on the nature of the security arrangements put in place to protect Dr. Brown. However, security did not appear to be stepped up significantly when Dr. Brown and UBP leader Michael Dunkley appeared together this afternoon at the advance polling station.

In response to a question from a reporter as to how they treated the level of the threat, on a scale of one to ten, Mr. Jackson replied: “We take this as a very serious matter. The highest.”

He declined to comment on what offence Police believe has been committed, or whether anyone has been arrested.

Glenn Jones, Press Secretary to the Premier, declined to comment on the news, saying: “So as not to jeopardise an ongoing investigation, all comment on this matter should come from the Minister of Public Safety or the Commissioner of Police.”

See this website for further updates today and tomorrow’s edition of The Royal Gazette for the full story and reaction.