A Ukip regional chairman has stepped down over alleged racist comments made on Facebook.
The party's East Midlands chairman and Lincoln councillor Chris Pain, who blamed the remarks on a hacker, will remain leader of the Ukip group on the county council.
Mr Pain is reported to have branded illegal immigrants "sandal-wearing, bomb-making, camel-riding, goat-f******, ragheads" on his Facebook page, though he has strongly denied making the comments.
Ukip's National Executive Committee (NEC) said it was suspending its judgment on Mr Pain until the police complete an investigation.
A Lincolnshire Police spokeswoman said officers were looking into the allegations.
A statement from Steve Crowther, Ukip's chairman, said: "The NEC has decided to suspend judgment pending the outcome of Lincolnshire Police's investigations into the allegations, and into the alleged hacking of Cllr Pain's Facebook account.
"Mr Pain is to step down as chairman of the party's East Midlands Regional Committee in the meantime. He will continue to represent the electors who voted him onto Lincolnshire County Council.
"Ukip deplores racism, but is also aware that the party is under concerted attack from political organisations such as Hope Not Hate who are attempting to thwart our progress.
"We will deal with any proven instance of genuine racism appropriately, but will resist politically-motivated campaigns designed to inhibit our growing popular support.
"We are aware of the increasing amount of internet hacking and counterfeiting, and will continue to work with the police and service providers to establish the veracity of any such allegations which may be made, and their sources."