Man held after major weapons find

The weapons have been linked to the UDA

The police have put on display a haul of loyalist guns and bombs found in the roofspace of a house in the Rathcoole estate outside Belfast.

The haul included five submachine guns, other guns, a pipebomb and a rare keyhole boobytrap device.

A 38-year-old man man is still being questioned about the find.

Inspector John McVea said he had no doubt lives had been saved.

A key hole bomb was among the weapons recovered

"We would view it as a very substantial find," he said.

"The people who had control and access to these weapons had murder in their minds and we are obviously delighted to have these weapons out of their hands."

The find was made during a police search of the roof spaces of several houses.

Security sources are linking the weapons to the loyalist paramilitary Ulster Defence Association.

Among the haul made on Tuesday were five sub-machineguns.

The police said a keyhole-type bomb, which was designed to go off when a door was opened, was also recovered.

The weapons were sent for examination by forensic scientists.