Death threats against loyalist politicians

Death threats have been made against top loyalist politicians and paramilitaries in Belfast, it emerged today.

Police warned Progressive Unionist Party leader David Ervine that a rival organisation was planning revenge strikes for the murder of terror boss Brian Stewart.

Stewart, 34, a senior member of the Loyalist Volunteer Force, was gunned down as he drove to work in east Belfast on Tuesday.

With the shooting blamed on the Ulster Volunteer Force, the security forces are braced for a violent new feud between the two groups.

Informed sources confirmed officers went to the home of Mr Ervine, whose party is politically linked to the UVF.

Several other PUP members and paramilitaries in east Belfast were also told they were under threat.

One of those alerted to the LVF plans conceded: “It looks like they have been prepared to sit back like a tethered goat.

“Their military commander was taken out and this is the response.”

Bitter tensions between the rival terrorist outfits were reignited earlier this month by gun attacks on the homes of leading men on both sides.

It is believed the UVF ambushed Stewart, from Holywood, Co Down, after shots were fired at two houses on the Ballybeen estate near east Belfast.

Earlier threats were also issued by the LVF against high-ranking UVF members as the row escalated.