On the eve of what seems likely to be a tense weekend in Limerick, armed detectives and members of the Emergency Response Unit were again patrolling the city streets last night.
Gardaí said more gang-related bloodshed in coming days could not be ruled out despite the massive Garda presence in the city.
It is now believed a third party or parties, and not just two rival gangs, were involved in the events of the last 11 days.
A hired criminal or another faction is believed to have played a role in the reported abduction of the Ryan brothers and the subsequent murder of drug dealer Kieran Keane.
Two further people were detained yesterday morning for questioning in connection with the murder of Keane who was gunned down on Wednesday night.
Last night a 39-year-old man detained in the early hours of Thursday morning was released without charge. A 40-year-old woman detained with that man was questioned at Roxborough until late last night before being released.
And two other people - a 33-year-old man and 42-year-old woman - who were arrested in Tipperary early yesterday were still being questioned at Limerick's Mayorstone station.
Yesterday detectives also interviewed Kieran and Eddie Ryan about their reported abduction.
