Northern Ireland

Arrest and searches linked to loyalist feud

Police carried out searches in the Westland Way area of north Belfast
Police carried out searches in the Westland Way area of north Belfast Police carried out searches in the Westland Way area of north Belfast

POLICE investigating an attempted murder linked to an ongoing loyalist feud have arrested a man.

The 35-year-old was interviewed and subsequently released on bail pending further enquiries.

He was questioned in relation to a gun attack last week when shots were fired at a man walking along the Ballysillan Road.

The man, a prominent loyalist, escaped injury after running into a nearby house.

A car used by the gunmen, a black Vauxhall Vectra, was found burned out in the Old Westland Road a short time later.

Homes close to the square where the car was set on fire were searched by police yesterday.

The gun attack has been linked to the murder of former UDA brigadier John Boreland in August 2016.

Boreland was shot three times outside his home at Sunningdale Gardens.

He had previously, along with close associate Andre Shoukri, had a fall-out with the mainstream UDA that resulted in the two men being expelled from the organisation.

A spokesman for the PSNI said: "Police investigating ongoing criminality in the north Belfast area have carried out searches in the Westland Way area."