The RUC, supported by the British army, yesterday sealed off part of a housing estate in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, where the last remaining Catholic families were burned out of their homes over the past two weeks.
The police arrived at the Glenfield estate yesterday morning and sealed off a number of streets in what was described as a "rummage" search. A gun and other unspecified items were found in an abandoned house.
At the beginning of July there were four Catholic families living in the estate, all of whom had been there for long periods despite previous intimidation and attacks. One middle-aged couple had lived in the estate since it was built in the 1960s. All have now left and are still seeking alternative permanent accommodation.
Altogether 20 Catholic families and the families of three RUC officers were attacked and forced out of their homes in the Carrickfergus area over the two-week period before July 12th.
According to police and local people the violence in Carrickfergus was orchestrated by the local UDA "commander", who lives in the Glenfield estate. He is under investigation by the RUC but is not yet facing any charges.
In Carickfergus during the Drumcree stand-off period there were 26 cases of intimidation, 17 blast bombs were thrown at police and 24 vehicles were hijacked and burned. The wreckage of a burned out bus and lorry remained at the entrance to the Glenfield estate yesterday.
On the night of July 7th, police helping to evacuate a Catholic family were attacked with a blast bomb. Another blast bomb was thrown at the home of a police officer who has a young family. An off-duty officer had to fire a shot from his personal weapon when he was surrounded by youths who hijacked and set fire to his car.
According to police sources, the local UDA has recruited large numbers of disaffected local youths and is involved in racketeering and drugs.
The UDA's paramilitary wing has splintered and many of its local commanders are now acting autonomously. The failure of the organisation's political wing to secure seats in the Northern Assembly is said to have contributed to the splintering of the paramilitary wing of the organisation.
Police in the North are now concerned that the autonomous UDA groups may pose a continuing threat at times of heightened tension.