Man released over loyalist weapons cache

A man was released from police custody last night after being held in connection with a weapons seizure in Belfast.

A man was released from police custody last night after being held in connection with a weapons seizure in Belfast.

Police believe the weapons cache discovered yesterday belonged to loyalist paramilitaries.

Three men and a woman were taken in for questioning after officers raided a location in the south of the city.

Some 12 handguns, a rifle, a detonator and around 18kg of commercial explosives were seized along with other items. The searches were carried out on Burmah Street, off the Ormeau Road, on Friday night.

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Residents were evacuated from their homes overnight after military experts were called in to examine the scene. Four arrests were made during the operation.

Police have confirmed paramilitary involvement in the weapons was a line of inquiry, with loyalist terrorists the main suspects.

South Belfast Sinn Fein MLA Alex Maskey said: "People in this area are worried about what these weapons were going to be used for.

"Previous arms finds in this area have been attributed to unionist death squads and more often than not these weapons have been used against nationalists.

"I believe that the discovery of these weapons serves to highlight the urgency which must be placed upon getting the political institutions back up and running."

"I would urge loyalists to follow the example set by the IRA last year in laying down their arms."