A car belonging the SDLP's candidate in West Belfast, Alex Attwood, was attacked while party workers were canvassing in the constituency yesterday.
The windscreen of the vehicle was damaged as canvassers called to doors in Poleglass in the afternoon.
Shortly afterwards two men pulled out of a nearby street in a car and shouted "Up the 'Ra" at the SDLP canvassers, according to Mr Attwood.
He was convinced the incident was not just an act of vandalism as a handbag left on the front seat was not stolen.
He would not say whom he believed was responsible. "You can draw your own conclusions from the fact that nothing was stolen and the men shouted, 'Up the 'Ra'," he said.
He said he did not witness the incident as the car was parked some distance away from where they were canvassing. A person in the neighbourhood told them of the damage.
Mr Attwood said the incident would not deter the SDLP in West Belfast, where Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams is the sitting MP. "You have only to think of how often SDLP members of the District Policing Partnerships have been attacked. This won't stop us," he said.
The academic and human rights activist Dr Liam Kennedy, an Independent candidate in West Belfast, condemned the attack. "This demonstrates once again that there are elements in our society unable or unwilling to abide by democratic norms," he said.
