Third man arrested over Shankill Road UVF murder

A 35-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the murder of a man on Belfast's Shankill Road.

Bobby Moffett, 43, was shot in the face shortly before 1300 BST on Friday in an area that was crowded with shoppers.

It is believed Mr Moffett had strong links to the Ulster Volunteer Force and was well-known in loyalist circles.

Detectives were already questioning two men aged 25 and 31 who were arrested on Sunday. A 49-year-old man arrested over the incident was released on Sunday.

All the men were arrested in the Belfast area.

At least two masked gunmen wearing fluorescent jackets shot Mr Moffett at the corner of Conway Street and the Shankill Road, and he died in hospital.

Police do not believe the shooting was sectarian. There is speculation that Mr Moffett may have been involved in a fight with a member of the UVF in recent days - but this may have been a personal dispute rather than anything to do with the organisation.

In a statement, the police said it was "a cold-blooded, ruthless killing".

"It is a chilling reminder of a violent past that everyone in the community hoped we had left behind," they added.

The gunmen were seen running off along nearby Conway Street.