A man was shot dead at an industrial estate in east Belfast today.
The victim, Brian Stewart (34), was ambushed as he sat in his car at Alanbrooke Road in the Lisnasharagh area at around 8 a.m.
A silver car later found burning in a nearby alley is believed to have been linked to the shooting. There were no arrests.
It is believed the victim was linked to the Loyalist Volunteer Force, which has been involved in a series of violent clashes with the Ulster Volunteer Force.
Local sources said there has been friction in the area between rival loyalist groups.
"The tensions at the moment within the wider loyalist community, but more particularly in certain districts of east Belfast, are palpable," said Mr Michael Copeland of the Ulster Unionist Party. "We are sitting on a time bomb, and it's ticking."
Last year, there were six killings linked to feuding or criminality involving loyalist groups in Northern Ireland.