Sunday Life can reveal cops warned the terror group's six main leaders they were being actively targeted.

The figures under threat include Jackie McDonald and Billy 'The Mexican' McFarland.

A senior UDA source said the threats were being taken "seriously" and blamed drug dealers and criminals in south east Antrim.

Said the spokesman: "Police have visited the doors of the whole 'inner council' to warn them of an imminent attack. These people have stated their war is not over, so this is serious.

"We believe these threats are coming from a group within a group in south east Antrim. These people are not loyalists - they are criminals and drug dealers.

"We believe they're a very small group of around 20 people who are heavily infiltrated by Special Branch.

"It is now evident that the security forces have the names and know the activities of these people.

"We also know that there are at least three more senior informants within their ranks.

"They are a group within a group and are only maintaining their position through a campaign of intimidation. It is now time for the authorities to act against these people."

In a separate development, the rival UDA factions have clashed over who was to blame for making sinister threats against senior SDLP members.

A spokesman for the mainstream UDA claimed the threats were issued by their ex-comrades in south east Antrim.

Added the source: "These people are planning attacks on SDLP members to escalate violence under the guise of blaming the UDA. They also plan to shoot Protestants and blame it on dissident republicans.

"These people are capable of dirty tricks and it's up to everyone in the community to root them out."

But Tommy Kirkham, from the Beyond Conflict group, denied the claims, adding: "I received a personal warning from the PSNI on Thursday night that the mainstream UDA 'inner council' element was planning to kill me.

"I just wonder if it is also behind this threat to the SDLP too, in an attempt to blame the people I represent.

"I have assured Danny O'Connor of the SDLP that he is under no threat from the UDA in this area."