Loyalists Up Sectarian Tension

national | miscellaneous | news report Saturday May 24, 2003 19:12 by Hebe

Nationalists in north Belfast have been warned to be extra vigilant after an increase in loyalist surveillance activities in the area.

Nationalists in north Belfast have been warned to be extra vigilant after
an increase in loyalist surveillance activities in the area.

The chilling warning comes after both Sinn Fein and IRSP members received a
spate of death threats from the UDA. Every Sinn Féin councillor in the
Oldpark area has received at least two death threats over the past 12
months while four north Belfast members of the IRSP have also been given
warning their lives are in danger.

The heightening of the latest loyalist threats follows a statement from the
UDA warning that if leading North Belfast UDA man Andre Shoukri was
targeted the terror gang would retaliate by murdering ten Catholics.

The IRSP has called on all residents of north Belfast, and particularly
those in the Ardoyne area, to be extra vigilant after a car carrying three
well-known loyalist paramilitaries was seen circling nationalist
communities around the Oldpark Road.

"Over the past two weeks concerned residents have pointed out the same car
driving around the Brompton Park, Manor Street, and Summer Street area,"
said an IRSP spokesperson.

"It is the same people in the same car driving along the same route time
and time again. It is an extremely worrying development.

"We would call on all our members and residents living in these areas to be
extra vigilant. It seems that an attack on nationalists is imminent."

Sinn Féin Oldpark Councillor Margaret McClenaghan echoed the call for
vigilance while calling on unionist politicans and representatives to
properly address the threats.

"Clearly this information indicates that loyalist paramilitary groups are
active in the Ardoyne area," she said.

"I myself have received two death threats over the past year from loyalist
paramilitaries and I am urging people to be extra vigilant.

"However I also want to know what the PUP and UPRG have to say about these
threats. And again, what are they going to do to instill calm in this area
over the coming summer months?"

A spokesperson for the PSNI said they would not discuss the personal
security of individuals, adding; "If we were to receive information that
someone needs to review their personal security we would take steps to
inform them. We never ever ignore anything that would harm someone or put
them at risk."