A 26 YEAR OLD man is recovering after a "punishment" attack in Downpatrick, Co Down, on Saturday. A group of masked men, armed with sticks studded with nails, beat the man, who was treated in hospital for wounds to his face, legs and back.
In west Belfast an RUC officer suffered a serious facial injury when he was struck with a stick after a collision between a police Land Rover and a car. Two officers and the three occupants of the car were injured in the collision.
RUC forensic experts are examining a gun and ammunition found by a police patrol in Whiteabbey, on the outskirts of north Belfast, on Saturday. The find was made following suspicious activity at outbuildings in nearby Glengormley on Friday.
The RUC is investigating reports that 100 masked loyalists paraded through Dromore, Co Down, on Friday. Several men are then believed to have visited pubs in the town and read out a statement. The incident is understood to be linked to divisions within the UVF. The paramilitary group's Mid Ulster brigade is refusing the leadership's orders to disband.
An Orange Hall in Portglenone, Co Antrim, was broken into early yesterday. Three photographs and a drum were stolen and later found by police.
Meanwhile, a British man is being held in Germany after police seized a car sought in connection with the IRA mortar attack on British Army barracks in Osnabruck in June.
He was among 10 Britons arrested yesterday in the central German town of Northeim. Nine have since been released after checks revealed no links with terrorist organisations.
The man being held is suspected of giving police a false name but is no longer thought to have IRA links.
The Rover car was seized, along with five other cars, vans and caravans in a car park, and the 10 Britons were arrested. Police confirmed it is believed to have been used by the IRA gang which attacked the barracks.
The arrested Britons told police they had bought the car after the date of the Osnabruck attack and were in Germany as contract road workers.