Up TO 300 people in the greater Belfast area have been warn-ed that their personal details are in the hands of the UDA, it has emerged.
The information is understood to have been discovered on a computer disk seized during a police operation in Carrickfergus in January.
Yesterday (Thursday) a police spokeswoman confirmed that a number of people in the Belfast area had been advised they should "take steps to protect their personal security".
The Irish News understands that the disk contained the names, addresses and car registration details of between 200 and 300 people.
Nationalist politicians last night described the latest paramilitary threat as deeply worrying.
Also yesterday the Red Hand Defenders – a cover name used in the past by elements of the UDA and LVF – threatened to kill a named Catholic postman. The threat was telephoned to the Irish News using a recognised codeword.
Royal Mail has confirmed that two managers also received threats, but could not say which organisation was responsible.
Sources confirmed yesterday the full extent of the UDA intelligence-gathering operation uncovered by police.
Specific details on the background of the individuals who were warned by police are not available.
However, a south Belfast grandmother has learned that her details were among those on the disk.
Police visited Martha Quinn (70) at her home in the Markets area of the city earlier in the week to tell her that she and one of her sons were at risk.
The disk was found in a 13-hour police operation which netted an arsenal of weapons, later linked to the feud within the UDA.
These included bomb-making equipment, a hand gun, explosive powder, an under-car booby trap device, ammunition and a number of pipe bombs.
SDLP west Belfast assembly member Alex Attwood said last night that the gathering of information by any paramilitary organisation was a "grave worry".
"In light of the January seizure of information and the warnings, and given the general fragmentation of the UDA, people should be vigilant," Mr Attwood said.
Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly condemned yesterday's threat against the Catholic postman. But he said it was "no surprise".
"I am urging all nationalists to be vigilant in the coming weeks. This death threat clearly shows that there is absolutely no change within the UDA.
"They are a force dedicated to the targeting and murder of Catholics," he said.
The SDLP's Pat Convery appealed for the threat to be lifted.
"It is unacceptable that public service workers have to live with the possibility of threats while trying to carry out their duties," he said.
