Special branch officers warned

Up to 200 Special Branch officers have been urged to increase personal security in the wake of a raid on a Northern Ireland police station, it emerged tonight.

As police continue to blame the IRA for stealing intelligence files during a daring break-in at the Castlereagh complex in east Belfast, sources confirmed a fresh risk assessment has been carried out.

One confirmed: ‘‘They have been told to step up their security.’’

Highly sensitive documents, including details on informants and their police handlers, were snatched from a Special Branch office during the March 17 robbery.

After a series of police swoops in Belfast and Derry saw nine people arrested the IRA was dramatically linked to the infiltration at the station.

Republicans angrily denied the allegations, pointing out that eight of those detained were released without charge.

One of the nine has been remanded in custody after being accused of having information likely to be useful to terrorists.

The charge against him does not relate to the files stolen from Castlereagh.

Sinn Fein has called on British Prime Minister Tony Blair to step in and call off the searches on republican houses, claiming they are being scapegoated for an act carried out by shadowy intelligence agencies.

However, it is understood close to 200 Special Branch officers have now been briefed about the papers stolen.

They have been warned to take extra measures to ensure their safety.

But a source added: ‘‘There is no question of them having to move house.’’