Feuding dissident republicans may have murdered two men whose bodies were discovered at separate locations in Belfast, it emerged tonight.
One of the victims was bludgeoned beyond recognition in a northern district where two homes have been raked by gunfire in the last fortnight.
The other, aged in his 30s, was shot dead near a GAA club four miles away on west Belfast's Falls Road.
As detectives examined a possible link between the killings they questioned a third man taken to hospital with bullet wounds.
His revelation that he was attacked at an area known as Bog Meadows early this morning led police to discover the gunned down body at a car park.
But the inquiry took a deadly twist hours later when the second killing was confirmed. The victim was found in an alleyway off Elmfield Street in north Belfast's Ardoyne district.
He had been battered so ferociously around the head with a blunt object that a priest called in to give the last rites said it was impossible to recognise him.
Police spent the day carrying out searches in the area in a bid to discover any clues.
Tensions have soared in Ardoyne, a staunchly republican neighbourhood scarred by years of violence, since two homes were shot up earlier this month.
Amid rumours that dissident republican factions had launched some kind of purge, many had feared further attacks.
Ardoyne priest Fr Aiden Troy said: "The shock here has been immense. I have been here since 8am this morning and people have been shaking their heads; they still can't believe this has happened.
"The vast majority of people are terrified that this could be a throwback to something they thought was forever gone."
Although detectives did not declare any link between the two killings, security sources confirmed it was a major line of inquiry. "Whether its score settling or a feud, it looks like there's been a serious fall out among these people," one said.
With Sinn Fein now supporting the police in Northern Ireland, party president Gerry Adams urged full public co-operation with detectives.
The West Belfast MP said: "If they did not die of natural causes, if they were killed, then anyone with any information should bring that information to the police and should co-operate to bring the perpetrators to justice."