The UDA has issued a warning to rank-and-file members to isolate the notorious Shankhill C Company or face the consequences. The warning comes as PSNI chief constable revealed 70 detectives are working to end the feud within the paramilitary group.
C Company - led by jailed loyalist chief Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair - is believed to have killed top UDA brigadier John Gregg in a gun attack on Saturday. Another UDA member Rob Carson was killed in the attack, which is part of the ongoing internal feud in the group.
As police continued to question two men about the shooting, incensed UDA leaders were plotting revenge strikes on the faction responsible. Members of the organisation's so-called inner council issued an ultimatum before a fresh round of blood-letting begins.
A senior source said: "All those in west Belfast who are claiming to be Red Hand Defenders will now be treated as such: A separate group."
The Red Hand Defenders was used as a cover-name in the weekend attack.
The statement continued: "All those who want to remain in the mainstream organisation are quite welcome to make their own arrangements."
Mr Gregg was the UDA's South East Antrim commander and one of the inner council which expelled Adair last September. Security sources believe the two sides have been locked in a deadly dispute over territory and drugs.
UDA chiefs set on revenge were tonight deciding whether to wait until after Mr Gregg's funeral on Thursday before hitting back.
One senior paramilitary said: "It will get worse before it gets better.
"John's death has to be avenged. You can't assassinate a brigadier and expect to get away with it." Inquiries have begun to find out who the gunmen were and who planned the attack.
As the dispute raged, the four remaining "brigadiers" who expelled Adair have all stepped up their personal security.
One said: "This is the biggest threat to my life in 30 years. There are people at this minute planning how to kill me."
But the UDA insisted that Adair's C Company was more isolated than ever, with at least one other division of the west Belfast brigade deserting him.
The Loyalist Volunteer Force, another paramilitary splinter organisation with close links to Adair, has also declared its opposition to the murder, it was claimed.
"The LVF has told us they will be attending John's funeral," one top loyalist said.
Security sources believe the feuding could see the terrorist organisation implode as rival factions continue to attack each other.
Seventy detectives are working to stop revenge murders following the killing of Mr Gregg, Northern Ireland Chief Constable Hugh Orde said this evening.
Mr Orde disclosed the huge resources being deployed to prevent more killings in the bitter loyalist feud as it emerged that the Ulster Defence Association chief's enemies had planned a similar assassination attempt nearly two months ago.
Mr Orde said: "We have 70 detectives investigating the crimes committed in this loyalist feud in Belfast.
"That's a third of my whole detective strength in the urban area."
PA