LEADING politicians and other VIPs in Northern Ireland have been warned by police to stay out of Belfast city centre as they are in imminent danger from the IRA.
Sources said that the politicians were told to keep out of the city centre for 36 hours as the RUC believed the Provisionals were planning to attempt to assassinate a VIP.
The sources said the IRA's Army Council had asked its units to draw up plans to kill a leading political or security figure. Plans from a unit in west Belfast to target a VIP in the city centre were said to have been approved.
RUC sources warned of an increase in IRA violence approaching Christmas. They have told traders in particular to be vigilant.
On Thursday 34 firebombs, three metal mortar tubes loaded with Semtex and a hand-held grenade launcher were discovered during a search of a house in the Whiterock area of west Belfast.
Police think the find thwarted a series of IRA attacks. A woman who was arrested is still being questioned by detectives. Republicans believe that an informer was responsible for the seizure, as RUC officers knew exactly where to find the weapons.
Supt Harry Kelly said recent intelligence information suggested an upsurge in paramilitary activity across the North. Police raided houses in Ballymurphy and Andersonstown yesterday. A Sinn Fein councillor in west Belfast, Mr Alex Maskey, claimed that "a growing campaign of terror is being waged by the British military on the people of this area".