A MAN has been arrested in connection with a poison pen letter putting a price on the heads of Durham county councillors.
The letter was sent directly to Durham Constabulary’s Chief Constable Mike Barton who then contacted the local authority to alert members to the threat.
As a result of the highly politicised letter, the council’s chief executive wrote to all members to reassure them that there was no intelligence to corroborate the threat, which was offering between £20,000 and £50,000 for a member’s head.
A Durham Police spokesman said: "Following receipt of an anonymous letter to Chief Constable Mike Barton which was threatening in its content towards a number of Labour Durham county councillors, Durham Constabulary yesterday arrested a 39-year-old local man on suspicion of sending a malicious communication.
"The man has been interviewed and bailed from police custody whilst the police investigation continues."
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