An attack by a loyalist gang on a Portadown bar may be the first strike in a bloody feud between rival loyalist gangs. Last night, the Loyalist Volunteer Force blamed the Ulster Volunteer Force, which it broke away from last year, of being responsible for the armed attack and arson, but said it would not be drawn into tit-for-tat exchanges.
At least 12 people were being questioned last night following the attack on the bar.
The mayor of Craigavon, Mr Kenneth Twyble, called on loyalists not to get involved in a "bloody" feud.
Customers were watching the World Cup soccer match between Northern Ireland and Germany, and playing dominoes in the Golden Hind pub in the loyalist Edgarstown area of Portadown, Co Armagh, at around 8 p.m. on Wednesday night.
Suddenly a 30-strong gang entered wielding sticks, cudgels and sledgehammers. One man was carrying a gun, according to an eyewitness. The gang smashed the downstairs part of the bar, breaking chairs, glasses and spirit measures.
One man said he had a gun pointed to his head. His attacker tried to fire three times but each time the gun misfired.
It is understood at least two of the customers were injured. One suffered a severe head wound. The gang told customers to leave and then set the bar alight. Before leaving the area the gang sprayed the words "Tigers' Bay UVF" on a wall nearby, which bears an elaborate Loyalist Volunteer Force mural.
The RUC later stopped two cars on the M12, a slip road which leads to the M1 towards Belfast. RUC sources said 12 men were detained for questioning.
Yesterday the M12 and part of the M1 motorway were sealed off as the security forces carried out an extensive search of the area.
Mr Twyble said: "I am very concerned about the seriousness of the whole matter. One can see bloodshed developing and I would call on all the factions involved to desist from all of these activities because it can only lead to further destruction and mayhem perhaps in our society."
The attack is thought likely to be linked to continuing tensions between the Loyalist Volunteer Force, which is predominantly based in the north Armagh area, and the Ulster Volunteer Force.
The LVF came into being after the UVF expelled some members following the murder of Catholic taxi-driver, Mr Michael McGoldrick, in Lurgan during the stand-off at Drumcree last year.
The LVF has been opposed to the loyalist ceasefire called by the Combined Loyalist Military Command. Some loyalist sources suggested the incident may have been linked to an attack on a pensioner in a loyalist bar in Carrickfergus last week.
There was praise from the Catholic and Protestant communities for the owner of the Golden Hind bar, Mr John Robinson.
One Portadown man said: "He is a very well-respected man on both sides of the house. No matter what was going on between these gangs, they shouldn't have involved his bar."