The Ulster Defence Association dispatched four hit squads to hunt down loyalist killer Michael Stone as he made his way to Stormont on Friday, according to a report in a British newspaper.
The Observer quotes senior UDA sources as saying the units were told to either arrest or shoot Stone because they feared he was planning to destabilise the peace process.
The sources claim UDA leaders only learnt that Stone was allegedly about to carry out an attack somewhere in Belfast early on Friday morning.
They were so concerned about his mental state that they sent out four terrorist units to find him, the newspaper says.
"Nobody knew for sure what he would do," the report quotes one UDA source as saying.
"So four teams were sent out to find him and they were armed. If Stone resisted arrest, he would have been shot. That was how serious they were taking the threat."
Yesterday Stone was charged with five counts of attempted murder over his attack on Stormont Buildings on Friday.
Stone (51) - who appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court - was also charged with possession of explosives with intent to endanger life, possession of an imitation firearm and possession of articles for terrorist purposes, including nail bombs, an axe and a garrotte.
Stone was remanded in custody until December 22nd.
Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain last night suspended the early release licence of Stone.
Mr Hain said: "Following Michael Stone's actions on Friday he has been charged with a number of very serious offences. As he is in clear breach of the conditions of his release I have suspended his early release licence with immediate effect.
"I will not hesitate to act to suspend the licence of any prisoner who was released under the early release scheme (the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998), introduced following the signing of the Good-Friday Agreement, if they present a risk to the safety of others.
"My priority is public safety and the interests of the whole community and I cannot permit freedom to any individual intent on abusing the opportunity they have been given to benefit from the early release scheme."
Stone was released early from prison in July 2000 following successful application to the Sentence Review Commissioners for accelerated release under the provisions of the Act.
Life sentence prisoners in this category are released on licence on strict conditions that they should not support a specified organisation, become concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism connected with the affairs of Northern Ireland or become a danger to the public.