Unionists and nationalist parties warned yesterday of "huge repercussions" if a paramilitary link is established to Monday's Northern Bank robbery.
The Ulster Unionists and the SDLP referred to the effects on the political process if any of the organisations currently on ceasefire are linked to the theft. The SDLP deputy leader, Dr Alasdair McDonnell, warned of "mafia culture spiralling out of control". He said: "What is clear is that paramilitaries have carried this sort of raid out before. Dissident republicans have held hostages and done a series of massive raids in Strabane.
"The Provisional IRA have carried out huge armed robberies, including the one at the Makro store in Belfast, and it is common knowledge that loyalists are involved in kidnap robberies."
He said any denials from any of these organisations could not be taken at face value.
Mr Fred Cobain, an Ulster Unionist MLA and member of the Policing Board, expressed his "deep concern" at the raid and condemned the "callous" bank robbers, saying: "This bank raid once again demonstrates how dangerous and confident the crime gangs in Northern Ireland have become.
"The scale of the robbery shows breath-taking audacity, but equally breath-taking is the wicked tactic of kidnapping families of employees in order to gain entry to premises."
He warned: "Hostage robberies are a modus operandi paramilitaries have employed in the past, and if there proves to be such a connection here, it will have huge repercussions."
The DUP, which wants photographic evidence of IRA decommissioning before concluding a deal with Sinn Féin to restore an executive in Stormont, has yet to issue a statement from its headquarters on the robbery.