Files on up to 10 more murders involving alleged security force collusion with loyalist killers in Northern Ireland have been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, it emerged today.
London Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens, who is heading an investigation into the killing of Belfast solicitor Mr Pat Finucane, revealed his inquiries have led to new breakthroughs.
The Scotland Yard chief also confirmed his 12-year-long investigation into claims that Special Branch and rogue British army units were involved in assassination plots is now centred on a top British spy inside the IRA, codenamed Stakeknife.
Sir John has already established shocking levels of collaboration in the murders of Mr Finucane and another loyalist victim, Mr Adam Lambert.
But in Belfast today he confirmed "there is another eight to 10 murders that are with the DPP and they relate to the allegations".
Mr Finucane was gunned down by the Ulster Defence Association in front of his family at their North Belfast home in February 1989.
The lawyer was singled out by Brian Nelson, a double agent who acted as the UDA's intelligence officer.
It is also alleged that loyalist gunmen who planned to murder an IRA informer called Stakeknife were re-directed by Nelson to kill a West Belfast pensioner instead to save the life of the security service's top mole.
Nelson died earlier this year and Sir John claimed his investigation has now got to the bottom of what happened.
He added: "A major part of our work now is into the activities of the so-called agent Stakeknife."
Sir John refused to disclose whether the agent, who has been named in press reports as West Belfast republican Mr Freddie Scappaticci, has been interviewed by his team yet. Mr Scappaticci strenuously denies he was the agent.