DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has condemned those behind the "deplorable" threat to loyalist Jamie Bryson.
The activist revealed on Monday that he had received a threat purporting to be from the 'Real UFF' group at the centre of an ongoing loyalist feud in North Down.
The group are one of two breakaway loyalist factions involved in a drugs feud in the area, that has seen a number of attacks take place in recent weeks.
The alleged threat followed Mr Bryson taking part in what was described as a "community safety walkabout" in the West Winds estate in Ards last week, that saw hundreds gather to protest the activity of the 'Real UFF', which comprises former members of the South East Antrim UDA.
Mr Bryson called those behind the threat as "thugs who are a cancer on the community" and said he is engaging with police.
The PSNI has not commented directly on the matter, but said they would "take the appropriate action when made aware of anything that may put an individual at risk".
Jeffrey Donaldson joined condemnation of the threat against Mr Bryson, who he has engaged with over his party's ongoing opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol. The loyalist claimed last year he was in "weekly" contact with the DUP leader.
"On a day when we have again witnessed ‘dissident republican’ violence on our streets, we also have threats to kill issued by a so called ‘loyalist’ criminal gang against Jamie Bryson and his family," Mr Donaldson tweeted on Monday evening, referring to attacks on police in Derry following an Easter parade.
"Both actions are to be condemned without equivocation. All such violence and intimidation, whether loyalist or republican, achieves nothing for any cause but inevitably creates distress for those on the receiving end. In both cases I hope the PSNI bring to justice those responsible for such deplorable behavior."
