The loyalist paramilitary leader Johnny Adair has been arrested and returned to Maghaverry prison in County Antrim, after the Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Paul Murphy revoked his license today saying he was in breach of the terms of his release under the Belfast Agreement.
Armed PSNI officers arrested Adair at his home at Boundary Way, in the Lower Shankill area of West Belfast this afternoon.
It is understood Mr Murphy is believed to have made the decision to return Adairto prison after receiving a security assessment from police.
Adair will be told tomorrow that he is accused of directingacts of terrorism, involvement in drugs and extortion, membership of a bannedorganisation, money laundering and acquiring, having and distributing weapons.
It is understood these accusations relate to intelligence gained since Adairwas released from prison in May last year.
His associate John White said he was "astonished" at Adair's return to prison.
He said: "Here we have a man who did not want to see any violence and who did not want to see anyone losing their lives.
"Yet we have these UDA brigadiers ordering the death of Johnny and myself, and they are running around free.
"I think many Loyalists will be very angry. Johnny Adair was a peace maker and he did not want to get involved in any feud."