Security has been stepped up around Premier Ewart Brown after postal workers intercepted a package containing a bullet and threatening letter addressed to him.

News of "a threat levelled at the Premier" was revealed at a press conference yesterday by Minister of Public Safety David Burch.

He said the package originated from within Bermuda and was discovered at the airport sorting office on Monday.

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 he and UBP leader Michael Dunkley appeared together yesterday 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.

Lawyer and PLP supporter Llewellyn Peniston said of the incident: "It's abominable behaviour, it's just bad. It's got to get better for all of us."

He expressed concern the news could damage Bermuda's reputation with international businesses and tourists alike. However, Mr. Peniston ¿ a one-time UBP senator ¿ blamed both political parties for the state of affairs.

"When one party expresses sharp rhetoric, it's been responded to in like. This behaviour from both sides has now, in my view, whipped up those irresponsible elements among the ranks who are capable of that sort of behaviour on both sides.

"It might be said that there are extremists on the side of the PLP but as far as the UBP is concerned it could be said that there are some hard-nosed racist elements that may have some strong feeling and as such may be capable of that sort of conduct.

"It's simply that when the tenor of these exchanges becomes sharp, people's reactions to that are met with such behaviour," he said.

"I honestly could not tell you what frame of mind either set of supporters are in at this juncture. All I'm asking is that they consider the right-minded group of people in the middle who now have to question what example is being set."

Glenn Jones, Press Secretary to the Premier, declined to give any reaction to news of the threat, 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."

Last night the United Bermuda Party released a statement, saying: "The United Bermuda Party condemns unequivocally any threat made against any politician.

"We are confident the Bermuda Police Service will fully investigate this matter and we look forward to hearing the outcome of the investigation.

"We have been deluged by calls from people questioning the timing of this incident one week before the election and branding it a political stunt, particularly by people who did not notice any increased security around the Premier shortly after the press conference announcing the threat.

However, we respect the Police Commissioner's assessment of the situation."

Last night at L.F. Wade International Airport the Premier was accompanied by his bodyguard and chief of staff, Mr. Wayne Caines. Dr. Brown declined to comment.

Acting Governor Mark Capes declined to comment.

The Royal Gazette reported in April how Dr. Brown was given a plain-clothed Police officer to guard him while out in public due to previous security scares.

He agreed to the offer after a man with a past conviction for causing bodily harm accosted him while allegedly in possession of a box cutter, but was intercepted by a member of the public.

Dr. Brown said that incident, coupled with one at Cabinet in January when Police had to deal with a drunk demanding to see him, led to a change to security arrangements whereby he would have a plain-clothed officer with him "when I'm out in public" in contrast to previous arrangements whereby he only had this "at large public events".

He commented at the time that although people in Bermuda used to leave their doors open "society has changed and we have a fair amount of mental imbalance, and drugs have aggravated that, and so we have a number of people that might not know what they are doing, but they can do harm to people."

The Premier's spokespersons have always declined to comment on whether he has armed security.

Former Premiers Alex Scott and Sir John Swan did not have bodyguards during their terms in office. Other recent predecessors in the post, Dame Pamela Gordon and Dame Jennifer Smith, could not be reached for comment yesterday.